How many different types of bees do you think are in Pennsylvania? There are more than 400 species! Participants will explore this vast biodiversity of bees, including a look at the wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. This will also serve as an introduction to evolution and taxonomy. Discover the variety of lifestyles of bees, such as being social or solitary and generalist or specialist foragers. Learn about how we go about studying the biodiversity of these important and imperiled insects.

Instructor: Nash Turley is an ecologist with broad interests in plant-animal interactions, community and restoration ecology, and science communication. He got his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto and was previously a postdoc at Michigan State University and the University of Central Florida. Currently, Nash is using long-term bee monitoring data to understand how bee communities in Pennsylvania have changed over the last 20 years. In addition, he is working with master gardeners to set up a state-wide bee monitoring program.