Prickles are defined as outgrowths of epidermal tissues and can provide a simple developmental system for the study of the control of cell proliferation and growth. Setting the stage for future studies on gene regulation in the genus Rubus (brambles), a detailed analysis and staging series of prickle development in Rubus idaeus subsp. idaeus L. (red raspberry) is presented and compared with Rubus L. subsp. rubus Watson (blackberry) and Rosa hybrida L. 'Radtko' (rose). Morphological measurements from light and scanning electron micrographs were used to subdivide prickle development into four stages. Our studies indicate that raspberry and rose prickles are modified glandular trichomes continuing to grow and eventually hardening into their final prickle morphologies as outgrowths of epidermal tissue. Although glandular trichomes seem to be involved in blackberry prickle development, our studies indicate that these prickles do not follow the same developmental progression as raspberry, suggesting a potential evolutionary deviation from what is commonly seen in raspberry and rose.

Different species of bees provide essential ecosystem services by pollinating various agricultural crops, including tree fruits. Many fruits and nuts depend on insect pollination, primarily by wild and managed bees. In different geographical regions where orchard crops are grown, fruit growers rely on wild bees in the farmscape and use orchard bees as alternative pollinators. Orchard crops such as apples, pears, plums, apricots, etc., are mass-flowering crops and attract many different bee species during their bloom period. Many bee species found in orchards emerge from overwintering as the fruit trees start flowering in spring, and the active duration of these bees aligns very closely with the blooming time of fruit trees. In addition, most of the bees in orchards are short-range foragers and tend to stay close to the fruit crops. However, the importance of orchard bee communities is not well understood, and many challenges in maintaining their populations remain. This comprehensive review paper summarizes the different types of bees commonly found in tree fruit orchards in the fruit-growing regions of the United States, their bio-ecology, and genetic diversity. Additionally, recommendations for the management of orchard bees, different strategies for protecting them from multiple stressors, and providing suitable on-farm nesting and floral resource habitats for propagation and conservation are discussed.

Native bee communities in Arkansas remain poorly documented, particularly within fire-managed prairie ecosystems that provide critical habitat for pollinators. This study surveyed bee assemblages at two native prairie remnants in the Arkansas River Valley, one large (Cherokee Prairie Natural Area, CPNA) and one small urban fragment (Jewel Moore Nature Reserve, JMNR), both managed using prescribed fire. Using pan trapping, we recorded 599 individuals representing 96 species across 25 genera, including 49% singletons. Despite differences in size and landscape context, both prairies supported similarly rich bee communities per sample day, with JMNR and CPNA averaging 16.1 and 13.75 species, respectively. However, species composition diverged notably, with only 34.5% similarity, suggesting distinct community structure driven by site-specific habitat conditions and management histories. CPNA was dominated by large-bodied ground-nesting and cavity-nesting solitary bees, while JMNR supported smaller eusocial halictids and cavity nesters. Results highlight the value of prescribed fire in maintaining nesting substrates and floral resources. Even small, urban prairie remnants like JMNR can support high pollinator richness, emphasizing their role as conservation assets. Our findings contribute to a foundational baseline for native bee diversity in Arkansas and highlight the importance of both large and small fire-managed prairies in regional pollinator conservation planning.

The authors would like to issue the following corrections about the published paper