Hive Mind: Penn State Researchers Track Over 400 Native Bee Species in PA
Close your eyes and think of a bee.
A honeybee or bumblebee probably come to mind, but there are 435 other species native to Pennsylvania — and 20,000 worldwide.
“It just kind of goes to show how diverse bees are across the world, and why they’re so important to learn about and research,” said Sarah Kania, a researcher with Penn State’s Department of Entomology during a presentation Tuesday at Ag Progress Days.
Kania is part of a team of researchers that is working with Penn State Extension master gardeners to increase understanding of Pennsylvania’s native bee population.
The Pennsylvania Bee Monitoring Program, started in 2021, works with about 20 counties throughout the state where volunteers collect bees to be sent back to the research lab for identification and further study.
About 300 bee species have been gathered so far.
A slide highlights the diversity of bee species at an Ag Progress Days presentation on Aug. 13, 2024 in Rock Springs, Pa.
While honeybees and bumblebees are the most well-known species, they are relatively unique in terms of how they live. Both species are very social, living with a queen in hives. They also are both generalized pollinators, meaning they will collect pollen from almost any plant.
“That’s why they’re so great for agricultural pollination,” Kania said. “They will go and pretty much pollinate anything that they see.”
The other bee species in the state are much more solitary, living relatively alone in cavity nests or ground nests, and often more specialized in which plants they will collect pollen from.
About 30% of Pennsylvania’s bees are cavity nesters, leaving the other 70% to nest in the ground.
Cavity nesting bees include mason bees and carpenter bees. Ground nesters include mining bees and cellophane bees.
Unlike the more social bees that live in hives, solitary bees do less “child rearing,” instead collecting pollen provisions for young to feed on before heading out on their own.
A wide variety of bees means that a wide variety of habitat is necessary to keep them happy.
For those looking to create a welcoming environment for bees, Kania said to have a mixture of plants, keep some leaf piles and logs or stumps around, and have some open spaces.
“Insects like it messy,” she said.
Sarah Kania, a researcher with Penn State's Department of Entomology, speaks about native bee species at Ag Progress Days on Aug. 13, 2024 in Rock Springs, Pa.
Most bees like to forage right around their nests. Honeybees will travel the farthest, going about 1-2 miles. Since bees like to eat locally, it’s important for them to find plants they like in their habitats.
Bees are specially designed to collect pollen, with scopal hair on their legs and body that helps pollen stick.
They also take advantage of static electricity. Bees have a positive charge while pollen has a negative charge, naturally connecting the two together.
Bees aren’t the only pollinators, but considering the variety of species, they’re certainly important. So it’s vital to understand them.
And that's the mission of the monitoring project. Collecting data on the state’s bees can help researchers know what species might be endangered or extinct, as well as track migration patterns.
Climate change and habitat loss are driving forces for bee population health and movement.
Kania said the project has led to the discovery of southern bee species migrating north to Pennsylvania.
“We’re excited to see where this project takes us and what kinds of research that we can continue to do with this data,” Kania said. “To encourage more people to learn about bees and to help spread the bee love.”
