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Knowing Oregon's Bees: An Exploration of an Overlooked Fauna
With August Jackson, Interpretation Program Coordinator at Mount Pisgah Arbor

Doors open @ 5PM | $5 Suggested Donation

From wilderness areas to urban backyards, bees are always underfoot yet often unseen. With approximately 500 species, Oregon isn't exactly a hot-spot for bee diversity. In fact, Oregon has only about one third as many species as California, but Oregon's bees play a crucial and often invisible role in the pollination of our expansive native flora, and an even less appreciated role in the productivity of our home gardens and industrial farms. Despite their importance, relatively little is currently known about which species live here, where they live, and how they make their living. A lack of baseline data presents challenges for assessing the health of Oregon's bees, and a lack of public awareness inhibits successful intervention on behalf of declining species.

In this talk, August Jackson will present a vividly illustrated exploration of the diversity of Oregon's bee species, their varied life histories, and examples of their relationships with our native flora and beloved local foods. Getting to know our native bees is the first step to seeing them everywhere you go, and to appreciating the vital role they play in our ecosystem.

August Jackson works as Interpretation Coordinator at Mount Pisgah Arboretum, helping to develop the Arboretum's interpretive exhibits and adult educational programming. He has been studying and photographing bees and other pollinating insects in the region for over five years, and his photographs have appeared in a number of publications. August regularly teaches classes and delivers talks on pollination ecology and bee identification around the state. Most recently, he is assisting with the Oregon Bee Project in teaching basic bee taxonomy to volunteers conducting a statewide census of Oregon's bee species.