Dr. Gabriela Chavarría
Vice President of Science and Chief Curator
Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Pollinator Conservation—The Truth About the Birds and the Bees

Only 15 percent of crops pollinated by bees are pollinated by honey bees (Apis mellifera), which were introduced in North America by early colonists from Europe who needed the right pollinator for their crops and honey production. The rest are pollinated by other bee species native to North America. Unfortunately, many native bee species are declining due to habitat destruction, pesticide use, invasive diseases, and other problems.

Most people are surprised to learn that there are 25,000 described bee species. Bees are so diverse and wide-ranging that you can find them in almost every climate and ecosystem.

In Colorado alone, we have 920 described bee species! This does not include the non-native honey bee, which is broadly popular in metro Denver. Many native bees are solitary and struggling to survive. They need native plants and their habitat has been shrinking with urban sprawl and modern development.

We need to protect our native bees so they can pollinate our native plants and help preserve our rich biodiversity in Colorado.

Everyone is welcome to the seminar. If you would like to meet with the speaker, please email Dr. Brian Buma at brian.buma@ucdenver.edu