Michigan is home to 465 bee species, and each one plays a role in the states’ ecosystems. During a 15-year study of wild bees visiting blueberry fields during their blooming season, researchers caught an unexpected glimpse of how extreme weather events can impact bee populations. The research was published May 8 in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. "There are few bee studies in the U.S. that have sampled bees for many years at the same location," said Michigan State University (MSU) Professor Rufus Isaacs. "There are even fewer that use the same methods over more than a decade."

This study highlights the need to develop programs that monitor wild bees across the United States since they are important to food systems. The research was funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, read the MSU Today article.