Educational Briefs: more coming soon!
These briefs focus on different topics as related to pollinators and pollinator conservation.
Bees of Massachusetts
A brief overview of the approximately 400 bee species documented in Massachusetts, as well as how we can categorize them by functional traits. Sociality, diet breadth, and preferred nesting substrate are reviewed.
What is a specialist bee? How many specialists are documented in Massachusetts, and what do they specialize on? If you're interested in learning those things and more, including planting options for these species, this brief is for you!
A list of all documented Specialist bees in Massachusetts and their associated floral hosts.
A list of all documented Specialist bees in Connecticut and their associated floral hosts.
Wondering why bees need floral resources, anyways? This brief includes what floral resources bees rely upon, as well as things to consider when planting for bees.
Explore important definitions, current cultivar research, and examples of wild-type native plants and their respective cultivars.
What do male bumble bees do? Are they important? Do male bumble bees help contribute to the colony? Where do male bumble bees sleep? We tackle those questions and more in this brief.
The yellow bumble bee, Bombus fervidus, has experienced documented declines. Learn key plant species that support this species.