The primary goal of these workshops is to improve field-level identification for New England bees and understand key taxonomical differences between bee families, genera, and species in the region. Students will come away with a skillset to identify certain bees to the species level in the field, some more complicated species to the genus level, and especially complex bee species to the family or tribe level.
Curriculum: Each workshop is held in-person on UMass Amherst campus. There will be short supplemental pre-recorded lectures and additional resources online, on Canvas Catalog, available before and after each workshop. Each in-person lab day will include lectures from our taxonomy expert instructors, hands-on identification workshops under a microscope, time spent in the field, and group discussion.
Schedule
Workshops are held on Saturdays from 9am-5pm. The dates below are for 2026. You can register for one or both of these workshops using the button below.
- New England Bumblebee Identification (May 9)
- Learn how to identify New England's bumblebees! Content includes discussions on population dynamics, habitat associations, misconceptions. We will work in the lab with look-alike species, male vs. female specimens, rare and extirpated species, and practice further in the field (weather permitting).
- New England Garden Bees (June 6)
- Learn how to identify garden bees! Content includes discussions on functional traits and which types of bees are often found in gardens. This workshop will include commonly encountered non-bumblebee species, including small carpenter bees, large carpenter bees, long-horned bees, sweat bees, and more. We will work in the lab with a variety of specimens and practice our skills in the field (weather permitting).
Registration
Registration is now full. Please email Harmonie O'Loughlin at harmonieolou[at]umass[dot]edu (harmonieolou[at]umass[dot]edu) to be added to the waitlist.
The cost for each New England Bee Identification Workshop is $249, all inclusive. Seats are limited to 17 for this course. Register early to secure your spot.
- In-person, all-day workshop with both lab and field time (weather permitting)
- Pre-recorded lecture to deepen your knowledge and access additional materials
- Breakfast, lunch, coffee/tea provided
- Access to virtual office hours to connect with program coordinator Nicole Bell
Reach out to program coordinator Nicole Bell with questions (nicolebell[at]umass[dot]edu). Email Harmonie O'Loughlin to register via PO (harmonieolou[at]umass[dot]edu).
Instructors
Justin Roch is a research fellow in the Andersen Forest Insect Conservation and Management lab at UMass Amherst, where his research focuses on using molecular and morphological methods to clarify cryptic groups of wild bees. He is also a curatorial fellow managing curation, outreach, and maintenance of the UMass Insect Collection. Justin specializes in insect taxonomy and biodiversity, especially pollinators, and he’s been working specifically with bee taxonomy for several years. In this workshop series, he wishes to help participants learn to identify the wild bees they see in their gardens and out in nature and instill an appreciation for the incredible diversity of bee species.
Joan Milam researches native bee taxonomy, biodiversity, and conservation. She works in collaboration with federal and state agencies, and NGOs to provide inventories and baseline data for monitoring native bees in managed habitats. Her research has included a systematic review of the bee fauna in Massachusetts, the effects of habitat restoration and fuels control on pine-barrens habitats, the bee fauna of remnant glacial outwash areas, the role of silviculture in enhancing bee pollination services in forested landscapes, and surveys of bee fauna in suburban lawns in relation to management.
Aliza Fassler is a PhD candidate in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she studies wild bees in forests. She also serves as co-chair of the UMass Bee Campus USA Committee, working to enhance pollinator habitats on campus and engage the UMass community in pollinator education and stewardship. Aliza has seven years of bee taxonomy experience, identifying species from across the eastern and midwestern US. She hopes you will leave workshops with a love for the beauty and diversity of wild bees, familiarity with common species, and the tools to document and identify bees on your own.
Nicole Bell is the pollinator specialist and extension educator with UMass Amherst Extension. Her research background includes the impact of wildfire on native mason bees, pollinator visitation to straight-species vs. cultivars, and the functional traits of wild bees in urban gardens. Her current work focuses on outreach and education related to all things pollinators! She looks forward to enhancing your learning experience through pre-recorded lectures and by assisting our expert taxonomists during your lab workshops. Nicole could not be more excited to offer this series, and hopes students will leave feeling accomplished and ready to share what they’ve learned with their community and peers.
Technical Considerations
- Access to Canvas Catalog - You will receive log-in instructions as part of the registration process. Additional resources will be uploaded on Catalog to enhance your learning experience.
- A suitable device capable of connecting to the internet - (e.g., desktop or laptop computer, tablet; these are listed in the order of preference/convenience for remote instruction) with audio capability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this course designed for? This course is designed for anyone with an interest or use for bee identification in the field. Community scientists observing on iNaturalist, home gardeners, conservationists seeking to understand the pollinator community onsite, and bee-yond can all benefit from course content.
Is this course for beginners? Yes, this course is appropriate for beginners. We will teach you how to work through an identification key, talk about bee anatomy, etc. We recommend you have taken the Pollinator Steward Certification program, so you have some cursory familiarity with bee ecology, but all levels are accepted.
What knowledge will I leave with? The primary learning objectives of these workshops are:
- Understand how to move through a taxonomical key
- Understand and practice using iNaturalist, DiscoverLife and other online identification tools
- Identify distinct New England bees to the species level in the field (depending on workshop focus)
- Identify some more complex New England bees to the genus level in the field
- Identify especially complex New England bees to the family or tribe level in the field
- A comprehensive understanding of the life history, functional traits, and diversity of bee fauna in New England
Where will this course be held? Workshops will be held inside the Goessman building at UMass Amherst main campus in Amherst, Massachusetts. Parking is free in many lots on campus on the weekends, and the campus parking garage has reduced rates.
Is there a field component to this program? Yes, optional field time is included in each workshop, weather permitting. Aliza will lead students in practice observing insects in the field, as well as an opportunity to use an aerial net to temporarily vial insects for a closer look. Field time will be held before lunch at some of the workshops, and students have the option to remain inside.
What if I need to withdraw? If students need to withdraw from the workshop/s, they can do so until 11:59pm on Sunday, April 19 and receive a refund of $200. There is a non-refundable deposit of $49 for every seat. We cannot offer refunds on withdrawals after April 19.