Discovering and protecting the native bees of the Sonoran Desert.
Our Mission
The Tucson Bee Collaborative is dedicated to documenting Sonoran Desert bees, engaging students in critical biodiversity research, and educating the public on the immense bee diversity of this region. We seek to enhance existing knowledge of bee natural history, assist in their conservation, and foster appreciation for these incredible species.
Discover the Locals
Southern Arizona is home to hundreds of native bee species, and many are extremely understudied. We collect, identify, photograph, and DNA-barcode them with support from the University of Arizona Insect Collection, then map when and where they are active.
Assess Their Status
Are native bees thriving or struggling? We’re establishing baselines for their abundance and diversity for our region so we can track changes over time. By mapping where and when bees occur, we can better understand what bees need to survive, including food plants and nesting habitat requirements.
Promote Understanding
Healthy bee populations mean healthy gardens, farms, and desert ecosystems. We work with students, artists, and neighbors to share what we learn to help people take action, from planting native flowers to joining our research program.