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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.

Mason Bee Monitoring Project

blue orchard mason-bee.jpg

An iridescent blue orchard mason bee
(Photo by Brian Buckner Photography)

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