Understanding Alaska’s Native Bees

Scientists have had limited information about Alaska’s native bees for decades. This knowledge gap is now being addressed by the Alaska Bee Atlas. On a warm July afternoon in Fairbanks, a volunteer knelt beside a cluster of blooming fireweed. With care, they used a net to capture a small bumblebee. This is one of the thousands of specimens collected each summer.

This moment is part of a larger initiative, demonstrating the collaboration among Alaskans. Their goal is to study the bees that play a crucial role in pollinating the northern region.