This meeting will be virtual. Members have been emailed the Zoom link.
Our Native Bees (And Why Beekeepers Should Care)
Public awareness and concern for native bees is soaring. But with no honey crop to harvest, why should Georgia beekeepers care about the almost 500 species of native bees that call our state home? This fully illustrated talk will explain why native bees are essential, touching on the eco-system services they provide, basic identification, and their interactions with honey bees.
Peter Helfrich is a hobbyist honey beekeeper and native bee enthusiast who lives in Decatur, GA, where he chairs the city’s Bee City USA committee (a.k.a., “Beecatur”). He holds Certified and Journeyman Beekeeper certifications through UGA’s Master Beekeeper program and serves as a director with the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association, and newsletter editor for the Georgia Beekeepers Association. He frequently speaks about bees and other pollinators in schools and at community events.