Efforts to Understand Alaska’s Native Bees

For many years, scientists had limited knowledge about the native bees in Alaska. Recently, a warm July afternoon near Fairbanks illustrated the efforts being made to change this. A volunteer with the Alaska Bee Atlas knelt beside flowering fireweed, using a net to collect bees. The capture of a small bumblebee marked one of many specimens collected throughout the summer. This small action is part of a significant initiative: Alaskans collaborating to learn more about the bees that help pollinate the northern regions.