Pollinator Buzz 2026 Vol. 3:1
The Pollinator Buzz – Volume 3, Edition 1, Winter 2026
Welcome to The Pollinator Buzz! In this quarterly newsletter, we will discuss what bees are doing right now, student research, recent pollinator-related discoveries, and beyond!
In this edition, we feature The Story of Complete Metamorphosis and How Insects Survive Sub-Freezing Temperatures. Read on to learn more.
The Story of Complete Metamorphosis
It can be difficult to imagine flower and insect-rich summer days when the temperature outside remains consistently below freezing. Even when snow covers the ground, and the landscape is colored in shades of gray, there’s still much happening below the surface.
The first stage of complete metamorphosis begins when an adult female lays an egg on a protein-rich provision, either pollen or insect prey. Once sufficient cellular division and differentiation have occurred, the egg hatches into its larval stage. Many hymenopterans (bees, wasps, ants, sawflies) spend most of their life as a larva. The five larval stages, called instars, are a critical developmental period for feeding and growth. At each stage, the head capsule grows, and body length and width increase. Some of our native bees and wasps spin a cocoon towards the end of the larval period, and many of our native bees and wasps overwinter in the final instar stage.
From the fifth and final larval instar stage, the insect pupates. Pupation is a non-feeding stage, where the protein consumed in the larval stage assists in developing adult structures like legs and wings.
After pupation, they emerge as fully formed adults.
How Insects Survive Sub-Freezing Temperatures
New England winters are cold! Insect pollinators are more resilient than we often think, and they have several strategies to stay warm and stay alive during sub-freezing temperatures.
Their overwintering site is important. For those overwintering in a developmental stage, the nest their mother provisioned for them provides critical shelter. This could be in the soil, in a pre-existing cavity, decaying wood, or an artificial structure in urban areas. For overwintering queen bumble bees, it is often shallow spots in soil or leaf litter. Their nest provides protection from elements like wind, rain, snow, and other environmental factors.
Supercooling remains a powerful example of pollinators’ resiliency to environmental conditions. When temperatures remain below freezing, they can increase the alcohol content in their body through the production of antifreeze proteins. This allows their internal temperature to drop below its melting point without freezing. Different insects, and different life stages, have different supercooling points. It’s often easier for “younger” insects, like those in a larval stage, to withstand colder temperatures than adult insects.
Written by UMass Extension Pollinator Specialist Nicole Bell. For questions related to the program, please contact nicolebell[at]umass[dot]edu (nicolebell[at]umass[dot]edu)
NEW! Registration is open for the New England Bee Identification Course
Bee identification is notoriously complex and intimidating. This beginner-friendly course consists of six in-person, in-lab workshops supplemented by online lectures and time in the field. Capped at under 20 seats, students will learn under a microscope with the help of 3 UMass bee taxonomists. This course is perfect for those interested in deepening their understanding of bee anatomy, as well as field-level identification of New England bees. Register online for $1499.
Registration is open for the Pollinator Steward Certification Program
Our Spring 2026 cohort is calling! From now through the end of February, register for the Pollinator Steward Certification program for $299. Included are 34 lectures, 12 hours of lecture time from 15 instructors, and lots of discussion and networking opportunities. This program is perfect for those looking to learn foundations in pollinator ecology and a foster deep understanding of practical applications for provisioning habitat.
Did you know we have a list of every specialist bee documented in Massachusetts and their associated host plants?
Massachusetts is home to approximately 80 documented specialist bee species, meaning females restrict their pollen foraging to just one plant family. These bees have very specific habitat requirements to thrive, but the good news is, we know what those requirements are! Our list of specialist bees provides all documented specialists and their common names, as well as their plant host family and any genera of particular importance.
To read this document, along with our other educational briefs, visit the Educational Briefs tab on our website.
UMass Extension’s pollinator program focuses on wild bee and non-bee insect education and outreach for farmers, gardeners, landscapers, and beyond.
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