The science of Alaska’s bees: What researchers are learning

The science of Alaska’s bees: What researchers are learning

Black‑tailed bumblebee (Bombus melanopygus) resting on a garden board in the Huling yard in Soldotna. This early‑season species is one of Alaska’s most important native pollinators, visiting currants, raspberries and chokecherry blossoms. (Photo by Timothy Bundy)On a warm July afternoon near Fairbanks, a volunteer with the Alaska Bee Atlas kneels beside a patch of blooming fireweed, gently sweeping a net through the air. A small bumblebee lands …