Pollinator Education

Pollination doesn’t sleep when the sun goes down! Bats, moths, beetles, and other nocturnal pollinators work tirelessly under the moonlight to sustain ecosystems and crops. These nighttime heroes face significant threats, but with a few small actions, you can support their survival.

Honey bees are the unsung heroes of U.S. agriculture, supporting specialty crops like almonds and apples. With 60-75% of commercial hives traveling to California's almond bloom, these pollinators follow a complex migratory path to sustain crops nationwide.

High fertilizer use is halving pollinator populations and reducing flowers, according to a 150-year-long study. Learn how sustainable practices can protect biodiversity.

Honey offers more than sweet flavor—it reveals insights into regional pollution. A study of 260 U.S. honey samples detected toxic metals like arsenic, cobalt, and lead, with clear geographic trends. Explore how bees act as natural environmental samplers, helping monitor pollution and its potential impacts.

Bumblebees may have tiny brains, but their cognitive skills are extraordinary. Research reveals that queens are faster learners than workers, mastering tasks like associating colors or scents with rewards. These findings shed light on how small-brained animals adapt to survival challenges, offering insights into the evolution of intelligence across species.

Did you know bees can recognize human faces? While it may sound surprising, studies reveal bees can learn to differentiate faces using rewards—much like Pavlov’s dogs. Bees are brilliant learners, associating faces with positive stimuli, like honey. However, in nature, bees rely more on their sense of smell and circadian rhythms than eyesight. For beekeepers, this means your bees might “anticipate” your visits based on routine, proving their remarkable ability to adapt to environmental cues.

Ground-nesting bees, which make up 70% of native bee species in the U.S., rely on small patches of bare soil to thrive. New research from Montana shows that livestock grazing doubles bee populations by reducing dense leaf litter and increasing bare ground. Sustainable grazing practices not only rejuvenate soils and support rural agriculture but also create critical habitat for pollinators. Learn how managed grazing benefits bees, improves biodiversity, and helps maintain our rangelands for future generations.

Bee Campus USA is a program designed to encourage educational institutions to create sustainable habitats for pollinators. By engaging students, staff, and the local community, the program fosters awareness and...