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Researcher reports 76 bee species in Treasure Valley, warns of pollinator losses and crop risks
Summary
Dr. Ron Bittner presented results of a local bee survey that found dozens of species in the Treasure Valley, collected roughly 14,000 specimens for identification, and warned that honeybee colony losses and loss of habitat threaten pollination-dependent crops.
Dr. Ron Bittner, a researcher who has worked on native and managed bees for decades, told the Senate Agriculture Committee that a recent survey in the Treasure Valley identified at least 76 bee species and that pollinator loss poses a growing risk to specialty and seed crops.
"We collected somewhere between 14,000 bees total," Bittner said, describing a survey conducted with partners that used pan traps and other collection methods. He said the project began with a specialty-crop grant and that roughly 4,000 of the collected specimens had been labeled to date while additional identifications remained in…
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