Crosswinds Marsh Nature fest 2021 Series
Nature Fest is a nature-oriented event that featured live entertainment, nature crafts, and games, face painting, and free canoeing. This cache is one of a series of 12 geocaches, launched the day after Nature Fest, with each one featuring a pollinator that might be found in Crosswinds Marsh Nature Preserve.
CMM10 - Sweat Bees
Another group of our native solitary bees are the sweat bees, of which there are approximately 120 species just in Michigan. These colorful little bees get their name because they often land on people to obtain a small bead of sweat from their skin. It doesn't hurt in any way when they do so and we often don't even realize a bee has landed on us, but this is how they get salt, an essential nutrient for them as well as us. These bees don't sting unless you smash them into your arm or leg as they lap up salt from our skin, and many species don't even have a stinger. Just think of yourself as a salt lick! Sweat bees are considered generalists when it comes to the nectar they consume. They will visit and pollinate many native plants, including wild strawberry, angelica, Canada anemone, lanceleaf coreopsis, shrubby cinquefoil, Indian hemp, culver's root, yellow coneflower, yellow giant hyssop, meadowsweet, cup plant, pale-leaved sunflower, and many others. Sweat bees nest alone in tunnels they excavate underground. To help boost their populations, you can plant native plants and ensure there are areas of bare soil in your garden that they can nest in.
Crosswinds Marsh Rules
No fires
No bikes / ATVs / personal watercraft
No swimming or ice fishing
Dogs must be leashed
No alcohol or illegal substances
No camping
Fishing in designated areas only
Collecting of plants & animals prohibited
Park only at N 42° 05.744' W 83° 26.552'
All Geocachers must follow the above rules.
Crosswinds Marsh is open from DAWN to DUSK. Admission is FREE.
This cache has been placed with the permission of Wayne County Parks. Permit 2021-10 has been submitted and is on file at the park office.