Bee City USA November E-News
AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT
Denton, Texas
Children learn about pollinators during a Pollinator Week event at Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center.
The City of Denton, Texas became certified as a Bee City USA affiliate in 2016. Denton’s interest in pollinators began with beekeeping, but has expanded to include the many native species that also contribute to pollination. The Bee City USA committee educates the public on ways they can support local pollinators and coordinates with the local government and other groups to create habitat and reduce pesticide use. The city has restored pollinator habitat, encouraged the community to get involved through gardening workshops and the distribution of native plant seeds, and eliminated use of glyphosate on all Parks and Recreation property. ​
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Photo: Sara Morris, Capped leafcutter bee nest.
FUN FACT
Did you know that native bees spend most of their lives dormant in their nests? It's important and easy to provide nesting and overwintering areas for bees by leaving plant debris including pithy stems and leaves, and who knows, you may even spot a few nests!

Xerces' guide, Nesting and overwintering habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects, is a great resource for learning more about the nesting and overwintering requirements of insects and what you can do to improve the habitat in your yard, garden, or neighborhood.
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MONTHLY ACTION ITEM
Each fall Xerces coordinates over 100 dedicated volunteers across coastal California to count overwintering monarchs. If you're lucky enough to live in an area where monarchs spend the winter you can join the effort to help conserve their overwintering sites. Learn more about the Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count.

If you're not located in an area with overwintering monarchs Xerces offers a range of other ways you can contribute to pollinator research. Learn more about community science and how you can become involved.
Photo: Candace Fallon, overwintering monarchs.
OUR NETWORK IS GROWING!
Visit the current Bee City and Bee Campus pages to see the most up-to-date lists of our combined 227 city and campus affiliates in 42 states.

Welcome to the most recent affiliates to join our network:

  • Woodstock, Virginia
  • Shoshone, Idaho
  • Dawsonville, Georgia
  • Havre de Grace, Maryland
  • Cape Carteret, North Carolina
  • Virginia Beach, Virginia
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
XERCES PRESENTATIONS & EVENTS
Building Pollinator Habitat in Towns and Cities: A Xerces Webinar Series
Join Xerces staff as they take a closer look at the needs of pollinators in each region of the country. Learn what plants pollinators need, how to provide nesting habitat, and what steps you can take to make change in your city.

These 1-hour programs are offered every first and third Thursday from October through January at 10:00 am PT / 11:00 am MT / 12 noon CT / 1:00 pm ET.

Join us Thursday November 12th for our webinar, Mobilizing your Campus to Conserve Pollinators: An Introduction to Applying to Bee Campus USA. Affiliates will share how they learned about Bee Campus USA, who led the effort, any challenges they faced and how they overcame them, as well as advice for maintaining an enthusiastic and engaged committee. There will be time at the end for open Q&A.

Click here for more information and to register.
 
Please note that all of our webinars are recorded and posted on our YouTube channel.  
Bee City USA, An Initiative of the Xerces Society | beecityusa@xerces.org | www.beecityusa.org
Bee City USA is an initiative of the Xerces Society. Our conservation work is powered by our donors. Your tax deductible donation will help us to protect the life that sustains us.