Bee City USA May 2020 E-News
AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT
Carson City, Nevada
Native plants coming up in a burned area after seeding. Photo: Lyndsey Boyer
Guest Blog by Kelly Clark, ​Committee Chair, Bee Campus USA - Carson City, Nevada

Carson City, Nevada, became a Bee City USA affiliate in 2018 and has since worked to make pollinator conservation a community-wide endeavor. Pollinator conservation has become a key component of the city’s education and outreach, habitat enhancement, and policies and practices. Carson City’s Bee City USA committee has become a focal point for pollinator related activities in the community, bringing together a variety of groups already working to spread awareness, improve habitat, and reduce pesticide use and adding to their efforts. Read the full blog to learn more about the great work taking place to make Carson City a better place for bees and other native pollinators. Download Carson City's renewal report at the end of this blog for a complete list of their 2019 activities. 
FUN FACT
Did you know that about 90% of the 3,600 species of bees native to the United States are solitary rather than social? Female solitary bees create nests and raise their young without the help of any other bees. While solitary bees have a life cycle of about a year, you'll only see them for between three and six months during their active adult phase. Keep an eye out in the coming months for individuals of these solitary species buzzing around your neighborhood or yard.

Learn more about solitary bees here, or join one of our upcoming webinars to learn about solitary bees, social bees, and other invertebrates!
MONTHLY ACTION ITEM
As the weather warms and spring rains come down, everything starts to wake up. Along with April flowers, mosquitoes might also start emerging. While the buzz of a bumble bee is often welcome, the buzz of a circling mosquito is not—especially if there is a risk of mosquito-borne disease.

To learn about ways to balance mosquito control with pollinator protection, check out the Xerces Society's new fact sheet,  Smarter Pest Management: Responding to Mosquito-Borne Disease and Protecting Pollinators .
OUR NETWORK IS GROWING!
Visit the current Bee City and Bee Campus pages to see the most up-to-date lists of our combined 205 city and campus affiliates in 42 states.

Welcome to the most recent affiliates to join our network:

  • Wellington, Ohio
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minnesota
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.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
XERCES PRESENTATIONS & EVENTS NEAR YOU
Discover the Insects Around You: A Xerces Webinar Series
Join Xerces staff and volunteers as they explore the lives of incredible insects, provide tips on how to find them, and share actions you can take to help them. Offered every Thursday in May at 10 am PDT.
 
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 | 503-232-6639 X. 127 | beecityusa@xerces.org | www.beecityusa.org