This citizen science project seeks to gather much-needed field data about the status of native blue orchard bees in a large region of Virginia and to determine possible competition with non-native bees. The primary goals of this project are the following:
 
 1) to track the distribution of an invasive bee species that seems to be spreading quickly in the mid-Atlantic;
 2) to track the distribution and abundance of a native species (the blue orchard bee) that we’re concerned is becoming less common in the region; and

The project also has a potential educational component, because volunteers who participate will have an opportunity to do public outreach that raises awareness about the research and underlying conservation issues.