Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
Minnesota is home to about 530 species of native bees, including more than 100 specialist species that depend on just one or a few types of plants for pollen. This video shows how the Minnesota Biological Survey bee team studies one of those species - Colletes andrewsi, a specialist bee that relies on prairie alumroot (Heuchera). Using a non-lethal mark-release-recapture method, researchers capture, uniquely color-mark, and release female bees over several days to estimate population size and better understand their habitat needs. Understanding these rare bees and the plants they depend on can help guide conservation, habitat restoration, and future population monitoring across Minnesota.
Minnesota is home to about 530 species of native bees, including more than 100 specialist species that depend on just one or a few types of plants for pollen. This video shows how the Minnesota Biological Survey bee team studies one of those species - Colletes andrewsi, a specialist bee that relies on prairie alumroot (Heuchera). Using a non-lethal mark-release-recapture method, researchers capture, uniquely color-mark, and release female bees over several days to estimate population size and better understand their habitat needs. Understanding these rare bees and the plants they depend on can help guide conservation, habitat restoration, and future population monitoring across Minnesota.
