Honey Bees are a multi-billion dollar industry that is responsible for all the honey and almost all the almonds that we eat. While they are ubiquitous across most of the northeast, they are only one of more than 450 species of bees found in New England. Identifying many of these species in the field is notoriously difficult, yet great progress has been made in recent years and with a little practice it is possible to quickly identify most any bee to genus and many to species.

Since the natural history of the 39 genera in the state varies widely, putting a name on the bees around us is an important step in understanding how they are interacting with their environment and how our actions are impacting them – for the better or worse.

This course will include a mix of lecture, microscope work, and field observation – with a focus on field-based identification, natural history, and conservation. We will explore several local sites to find and discuss a wide range of genera and natural history strategies. Throughout the weekend we will touch on ways participants can make meaningful impacts for insect conservation at all scales – from the backyard to the grocery store.