New Bee Species Found in Park

August 31, 2011 Posted by: Allyson Read

To date, 5, and possibly 7, new species of bees have been identified during a pollinator study at the Cochran Shoals unit of the park. Thanks to Melina Duran, a volunteer with the Southeast Regional Office (SERO) of the National Park Service and a student of Engineering in Agroecology from the University of Chapingo in Mexico, the new species are also new records for the state of Georgia! The study is collaboration among CRNRA, SERO, the NPS Washington Office, the United States Geological Survey, and the Coevolution Institute. The identification process has just begun and many samples have yet to be identified. Stay tuned as more information comes in!