Three Rare Native Bees Found in Vermont for the First Tim

[Kent McFarland]

After a decade of work, our Vermont Wild Bee Survey had found that 352 wild bee species call Vermont home, with 60% of those species likely in need of conservation action. But we knew there were more native bees to be found. One area we predicted might harbor some rare species of conservation concern was the far southeastern corner of Vermont.

On a hot June day, I accompanied our bee expert, Spencer Hardy, to help him survey a powerline right-of-way that likely had some specific native plants that some rare bees used. If we were lucky, we might find some native bee species that have never been documented in the state.

Spencer’s expertise and homework paid off. He netted three — well, two confirmed and one that got away — new bees for Vermont along one stretch of brushland created by the right-of-way.

Read the rest of the story at the Vermont Atlas of LIfe Blog 
https://val.vtecostudies.org/newsfeed/three-rare-native-bees-found-in-vermont-for-the-first-time/

And learn about more discoveries of Vermont's biodiversity at 
https://val.vtecostudies.org/latest-discoveries/

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Kent McFarland (he/him)
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
PO Box 420 | Norwich, Vermont 05055