What's Happening in Princeton, MN…

As anyone who lives in Princeton can attest, Minnesota enjoys a high rate of biodiversity, and recent research shows it is home to hundreds of species of bee.

In total, 508 species have been recorded the state, many of which are rare and specialized species that prior to a recent survey had never been seen in our state.

The likely cause of the state's high biodiversity is the fact that it is situated where four major biomes – the prairie grasslands, aspen parklands, coniferous forest, and deciduous forest – come together. The discover of the numerous bee species here, which was published in Zootaxa, is the result of efforts by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the University of Minnesota, and local bee experts.

Print shops working with county and state government agencies provide materials to keep the public informed of local wildlife preservation efforts.

The bee species survey is fundamental to assisting scientists in getting a handle on the ecology and conservation required to support the state’s local bee populations, which are vital to pollenating Minnesota crops and flower species.

The research revealed many species that had previously only been documented in adjoining states. Moreover, some, such as Ashton’s cuckoo bumble bee were once wild in Minnesota but had not been seen in more than two decades. Other rare species of bees, including the pickerelweed long-horned bee, Suckley’s cuckoo bumble bee, and the endangered rusty-patched bumble bee, were found here.

The expansive number of bee species counted is only a preliminary report. Researchers expect there are more bee species yet to be documented.

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