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Bees

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spotted moth on leaf
Read article: Protecting pollinators: Beyond bees
Protecting pollinators: Beyond bees
Approximately 35% of our food crops depend on pollinators to produce what we like to eat, according to the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation...
Carpenter bees: Destroyers of wood or beneficial pollinators? Carpenter bee on a purple passion flower
Read article: Carpenter bees: Destroyers of wood or beneficial pollinators?
Carpenter bees: Destroyers of wood or beneficial pollinators?
Bees are a welcome site in our gardens. Without the help of bees (and other pollinators) pollinating many of our plants, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy...
photo of a sweat bee covered in pollen
Read article: Pollinators in soybean production- Are you in the know?
Pollinators in soybean production- Are you in the know?
Did you know that more than one-third of the food humans consume depend on pollinators for reproduction, i.e., fruit set? And when talking about...
Bee on the lookout for native bees. Native bee on an orange and red flower.
Read article: Bee on the lookout for native bees this summer
Bee on the lookout for native bees this summer
Now that we’re well into May, many landscapes are full of blooming plants and the buzz of bees. When you think of bees, what comes to mind? Chances...

News Releases

bees on honeycomb
HCE sponsors free presentation on bees with local Master Naturalist
YORKVILLE, Ill. – Do bees hibernate in the winter? Why is a swarm a good thing for the colony? How important is pollination for our food supply? Get answers to these and many other buzz-worthy questions in a fun, informative presentation by beekeeper and University of Illinois Extension Master...
A close up of a background
Researchers call on backyard scientists to help save pollinators
URBANA, Ill. – Fluttering quietly and steadily from flower to bloom, butterflies, bees and other pollinators do the hard background work of fertilizing flowering plants, fruits and crops. But these unsung heroes are in danger. Studies have shown an estimated 40% of insect species, including the...
Join local beekeeper and master gardener to learn about bees and their homes
CLINTON, Ill. – Bees are important and play vital roles in our ecosystem, but what function does each bee species serve? Which bees are the best pollinators? Do bees live alone or in colonies? In what types of homes do bees reside? DeWitt County Master Gardeners are hosting an event to answer...
Small bees attracted to small flowers
URBANA, Ill. – While the bumblebee is likely the most well-known pollinator, pollinators come in a variety of shapes, species, and sizes. “Many entomologists believe the tiny sweat bee nectaring on your flowering weed is just as important to a healthy ecosystem as the more well-known...

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