News — Native Bees

Each month our Bee Informed Blog highlights current news, science, and research related to solitary bee conservation, food insecurity, and sustainability. 1. Native Bees Climb Social Ladder (County News) A native bee which nests in tree-fern fronds is helping scientists understand how life developed to be social and altruistic — and how bees evolved to purposefully hatch sterile young, a fact which defies Darwin’s natural selection theory. The Australian bee Amphylaeus morosus only recently made the jump from being a solitary species to a social one — which made them a perfect, and rare, animal to put under the metaphorical microscope. The...

Pollinator Week is an annual celebration in support of pollinator health that was initiated and is managed by our friends at Pollinator Partnership. It is a time to raise awareness for pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them. The great thing about Pollinator Week is that you can celebrate and get involved any way you like! Popular events include planting for pollinators, hosting garden tours, participating in online bee and butterfly ID workshops, and so much more. Visit Pollinator Partnership's website for a list of activities and resources to help you celebrate Pollinator Week! We've also created...

Over the years you've shared some amazing photos of bee-friendly yards and gardens with us and this spring we want to highlight your hard work and creativity to help inspire others! Share your pictures and bee-friendly habitat details, and you may be "crowned" the winner of Crown Bees 1st annual Backyard Buzz contest. From Crown Bees' houses surrounded by native plants to completely recycled DIY bee houses to pesticide free gardening and everything in-between.....show us your best! Submissions must include a photo and a short description detailing what makes your yard and garden bee-friendly. Submissions accepted: April 15th - June...

The sun is out; the flowers are blooming; the bees are buzzing — spring is finally here! However, sometimes the buzz of bees is not always a welcome sound, especially when you start to notice nickel-sized holes in your house or patio furniture. These holes are likely caused by carpenter bees, appropriately named for their habit of drilling holes in wood. Unlike mason and leafcutter bees, which use existing holes to lay their eggs and don't cause damage to the structures they live in, carpenter bees are wood-boring insects that can cause moderate damage. It's important to note that carpenter bees do...