Understanding Alaska’s Native Bees: A Community Effort

For many years, the scientific community had limited knowledge about native bees in Alaska. This began to change through the efforts of the Alaska Bee Atlas and its volunteers.

On a warm July afternoon near Fairbanks, a volunteer engages in the careful task of bee collection. The volunteer uses a net to gather specimens among the fireweed blooms. Capturing a small bumblebee is one simple moment of an extensive statewide collection effort each summer.

These activities are part of an overarching mission: understanding and appreciating the vital role of bees in Alaska’s ecosystem. This project highlights a cooperative undertaking among Alaskans to learn about the bees essential for pollinating the northern regions.