Interested in learning about pollinators? Participate in a squash bee survey!
Join our squash bee pollinator citizen science project to conduct surveys of squash bees in your community.
July 20, 2018 - Author: Zsofia Szendrei
Squash bees are native solitary bees that specialize in pollinating squash flowers. They are the focus of a Michigan State University Department of Entomology project to better understand their importance in crop pollination.
We need your help!
We invite you to join a citizen science project to conduct surveys of squash bees in your community. In our upcoming hands-on workshops, you will learn about squash bee biology and identification, then go out to gardens with cucurbits and learn to collect data on a mobile device or hard copy of the survey.
Here's some great information about the project:
- View an online webinar on the squash bee survey, bee identification, and using the smart phone app.
- Password: MG2018
- Click the app install link for squash bee survey on smart phone: https://goo.gl/3j2LSz
- View the squash bee survey on a computer
- Print a paper copy of the squash bee survey
- Bookmark with QR codes
- Fact sheet about squash bees and squash pollination
- Visit our project website for more up-to-date information and resources
Join us for in-person hands-on workshops!
Site: Kent MSU Extension
Address: 775 Ball NE, Grand Rapids MI 49503
When: Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Time: 9:00 a.m. - noon
Contact person: Diane Brady, bradydi1@msu.edu
Registration link: Click here to register
Site: Alcona Community High School
Address: 51 N. Barlow Rd., Lincoln, MI
When: July 27
Time: 9:30 a.m. – noon
Contact person: Zsofia Szendrei, szendrei@msu.edu
Registration link: Click here to register
Site: Leelanau County Government Center
Address: 8527 E. Government Center Dr., Suttons Bay, MI
When: August 3, 2018
Time: 9:00 a.m. - noon
Contact person: Nathan Walton, waltonn2@anr.msu.edu
Registration link: Click here to register
Attendance at this hands-on training qualifies for Extension Master Gardener continuing education time and data collection qualifies as an approved Extension Master Gardener project. When logging education and volunteer hours in VMS, please use project 2018 Squash Bee Citizen Science Project.
Resources
- PowerPoint Presentation of Data from 2017
- Bee Identification Help
- Squash Bee Identification: squash bees and honey bees
- Squash Bee Natural History
