From Blueberries to Big Macs: Bees in Virginia

European honeybees are some of the best known celebrities of the natural world. When we think of bees, we think of hives, honey, and the Olympic feats of strength and speed we employ to avoid being stung. But did you know:

• There are 20,000 known species of bee, 4,000 of which are native to the United States, and over 300 of which call Virginia home

• Honey bees are not native to North America. And so, despite their pollinating prowess, they ain't got nothin' on native bees when it comes to pollinating native plants like tomatoes, eggplants, pumpkins, cherries, blueberries, and cranberries.

Curiosity stoked? Join us on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 to learn more about bees! Dr. T’ai Roulston's discussion, "Conserving Virginia’s Native Bees," will take place in room M229 on the main campus from 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. His talk will provide a broad survey of the types of bees in Virginia, discuss the various threats and opportunities they encounter in our human dominated landscape, and explore ways in which land management at all scales can contribute to their success.

We can thank bees for dietary staples ranging from honey to Big Macs, and everything in between -- which makes a world without bees a scary one to contemplate. Come learn more about how bees affect the world in which we live, and what you can do to help ensure they'll be buzzing around for millennia more.