The Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters recently featured a talk entitled “The Bee Crisis and Wisconsin: The Role of Native Bees” presented by Hannah for one of their Academy Evening Talks.  The Wisconsin Academy is an independent, non-profit organization that connects Wisconsin people and ideas to foster dialogue on important issues.  Hannah’s talk was part of a three part series about bee decline and bee keeping hosted by the Mead Public Library in Sheboygan.  The talk covered a range of topics including the importance of bees to crop pollination and what people can do to help the bees.  Here are three simple steps you can take to help the bees too:

1. Plant a diverse mix of native flowering plants that bloom throughout the growing season.

2. Create nesting sites for bees including sparsely vegetated, undisturbed soil and artificial nest boxes.

3. Reduce the use of pesticides around your yard or avoid spraying pesticides when bees are active.

For more information about bee conservation, visit The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Pollinator Conservation Program website.

This article was posted in Lab News, Pollinators.