Untapped Capacity: Our 4,000 Species of Native Bees
Untapped Capacity: Our 4,000 Species of Native BeesSo many unknowns and so many potentials.
USGS Bee Lab at the Eastern Ecological Science Center
Active
By Eastern Ecological Science Center
February 13, 2025
The USGS Bee Lab supports research on native bees. As part of that program we and our co-located USFWS partners develop identification tools and keys for native bee species, take public access hi resolution photographs of bees, work with partners from all the states of the unions, design and test bee counting techniques and document bee/plant associations as well as double checking researchers identification of native bee species. Our goal is to assist those who do research on native bees to increase their ability to research bees accurately and efficiently. We are the only group in the Department of the Interior who currently has the expertise to identify native bees to species.
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Discover Life - free on-line tools to identify species, teach and study nature's wonders, report findings, build maps, process images, and contribute to and learn from a growing, interactive encyclopedia of life with 1,385,843 species pages and 778,580 maps.
Discover Life - Identification - Start the identification process by determining the bee genus you have by using this guide
Handy Bee Manual: How to Catch and Identify Bees and Manage a Collection - A Collective and Ongoing Effort by Those Who Love to Study Bees in North America
Social Media
5,000 Ultra Hi-Res Public Domain Images from our USGS Bee Lab - This Flickr site is designed to provide easy access to our photographs so that they may be freely used. There is no need to ask for our permission for any use of these photographs.
USGS Bee Lab - Follow us on Tumblr includes detailed information about bee species
USGS Bee Lab - Follow us on Instagram and enjoy our photography and stories about bees and the laboratory.
Media
Ceratina smaragdula, male, and introduced bee, Hawaii, Oahu, March 2012
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
Osmia aglaia comes from Yosemite National Park , where Claire Kremen's group has been looking at post burn bee communities in areas of chronic burns.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
Ceratina from Vietnam.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
Bee Balm. Good for hummingbird and bee forage.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
Phidippus clarus, Beltsville, Maryland,
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
Velvet Ant from Arkansas
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Quick Background on the Mid Atlantic region's native bees Quick Background on the Mid Atlantic region's native bees
Bees are tiny, one bush or one clump of perennials is often all it takes to foster native bees in your yard. Within a mile of your yard (urban or rural) there are at least over 100 species of bees looking for the right plants. Attracting and tending these native bees on your property is all about planting the right flowers and flowering bushes.
Introduced and Alien Bee Species of North America (North of Mexico) Introduced and Alien Bee Species of North America (North of Mexico)
Surveys by the USGS Native Bee Laboratory have uncovered several new alien bee species in the United States. The data we and our collaborators are collecting tracks the spread of these species, at least in a coarse way. We hope to expand surveys in collaboration with our federal and state land management partners as we detect more invading species. Information on distributions and status of
DNA Barcoding for Identifying Native Bee Species
The Challenge: Traditionally, bee identification has relied on taxonomic methods centered on descriptions of morphological differences between species. However, for many species, separate keys are required for identifying adult males and females and immature life stages. These keys are commonly unavailable. The lack of distinguishing morphological characters useful for separating closely related...
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Untapped Capacity: Our 4,000 Species of Native Bees
Untapped Capacity: Our 4,000 Species of Native Bees
Untapped Capacity: Our 4,000 Species of Native BeesSo many unknowns and so many potentials.
Bee Lab Overview
Bee Lab Overview
The USGS Bee Lab, part of the Eastern Ecological Science Center, supports native bee conservation by providing critical data and tools for the United States and other countries.
Insect Species Occurrence Data
Insect Species Occurrence Data
Species occurrence records for native and non-native bees, wasps and other insects collected using mainly pan, malaise, and vane trapping; and insect netting methods in Canada, Mexico, the non-contiguous United States, U.S. Territories (specifically U.S. Virgin Islands), U.S. Minor Outlying Islands and other global locations.
Pollinator Science Strategy
Pollinator Science Strategy
Learn about the USGS’s role in the research to promote healthy pollinator populations and address information gaps.
The USGS Bee Lab supports research on native bees. As part of that program we and our co-located USFWS partners develop identification tools and keys for native bee species, take public access hi resolution photographs of bees, work with partners from all the states of the unions, design and test bee counting techniques and document bee/plant associations as well as double checking researchers identification of native bee species. Our goal is to assist those who do research on native bees to increase their ability to research bees accurately and efficiently. We are the only group in the Department of the Interior who currently has the expertise to identify native bees to species.
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Discover Life - free on-line tools to identify species, teach and study nature's wonders, report findings, build maps, process images, and contribute to and learn from a growing, interactive encyclopedia of life with 1,385,843 species pages and 778,580 maps.
Discover Life - Identification - Start the identification process by determining the bee genus you have by using this guide
Handy Bee Manual: How to Catch and Identify Bees and Manage a Collection - A Collective and Ongoing Effort by Those Who Love to Study Bees in North America
Social Media
5,000 Ultra Hi-Res Public Domain Images from our USGS Bee Lab - This Flickr site is designed to provide easy access to our photographs so that they may be freely used. There is no need to ask for our permission for any use of these photographs.
USGS Bee Lab - Follow us on Tumblr includes detailed information about bee species
USGS Bee Lab - Follow us on Instagram and enjoy our photography and stories about bees and the laboratory.
Media
Ceratina smaragdula, male, and introduced bee, Hawaii, Oahu, March 2012
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
Osmia aglaia comes from Yosemite National Park , where Claire Kremen's group has been looking at post burn bee communities in areas of chronic burns.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
Ceratina from Vietnam.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
Bee Balm. Good for hummingbird and bee forage.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
Phidippus clarus, Beltsville, Maryland,
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
Velvet Ant from Arkansas
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Quick Background on the Mid Atlantic region's native bees Quick Background on the Mid Atlantic region's native bees
Bees are tiny, one bush or one clump of perennials is often all it takes to foster native bees in your yard. Within a mile of your yard (urban or rural) there are at least over 100 species of bees looking for the right plants. Attracting and tending these native bees on your property is all about planting the right flowers and flowering bushes.
Introduced and Alien Bee Species of North America (North of Mexico) Introduced and Alien Bee Species of North America (North of Mexico)
Surveys by the USGS Native Bee Laboratory have uncovered several new alien bee species in the United States. The data we and our collaborators are collecting tracks the spread of these species, at least in a coarse way. We hope to expand surveys in collaboration with our federal and state land management partners as we detect more invading species. Information on distributions and status of
DNA Barcoding for Identifying Native Bee Species
The Challenge: Traditionally, bee identification has relied on taxonomic methods centered on descriptions of morphological differences between species. However, for many species, separate keys are required for identifying adult males and females and immature life stages. These keys are commonly unavailable. The lack of distinguishing morphological characters useful for separating closely related...
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Untapped Capacity: Our 4,000 Species of Native Bees
Untapped Capacity: Our 4,000 Species of Native BeesSo many unknowns and so many potentials.
Untapped Capacity: Our 4,000 Species of Native Bees
Untapped Capacity: Our 4,000 Species of Native BeesSo many unknowns and so many potentials.
Bee Lab Overview
Bee Lab Overview
The USGS Bee Lab, part of the Eastern Ecological Science Center, supports native bee conservation by providing critical data and tools for the United States and other countries.
Insect Species Occurrence Data
Insect Species Occurrence Data
Species occurrence records for native and non-native bees, wasps and other insects collected using mainly pan, malaise, and vane trapping; and insect netting methods in Canada, Mexico, the non-contiguous United States, U.S. Territories (specifically U.S. Virgin Islands), U.S. Minor Outlying Islands and other global locations.
Pollinator Science Strategy
Pollinator Science Strategy
Learn about the USGS’s role in the research to promote healthy pollinator populations and address information gaps.