Hailey Public Library will buzz into spring with a free talk about ‘The Amazing World of Native Bees’ with educator and forester Linda Ries on Thursday, March 23, 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Town Center West. The talk is co-sponsored by the Wood River Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society.
“Native bees are the primary pollinator or significantly supplement honeybees for agricultural crops,” commented Kristin Fletcher, the library’s programs and engagement manager, “However, these fascinating creatures are in decline all over the United States as a result of loss of habitat, toxins and disease. The good news is that there’s much we can do to help them out. But first we need to learn more about the unique natural history and lifestyle of the species who live here.”
Ries will teach participants how to identify local native bees, explore their life cycles and gain tips on how to encourage these bees to thrive and survive in our backyards. The talk will focus on bumble bees, mason bees, and leaf-cutter bees as well as other native bees and how they are different from imported honeybees. Ries will discuss which bees pollinate local fruit trees and vegetables and examine the increasing threats from pesticides and poor cultural practices.
Linda Ries has a B.S. in Forest Biology from Colorado State University and worked for over 20 years as a U.S. Forest Service forester and conservation Eeucator. She helped establish the Hailey Native Plant Arboretum in 1996 and has served on the City of Hailey Tree Committee since 2016. She was the Project Learning Tree coordinator for South Dakota and also served as Blaine County 4-H leader for Entomology, Geology and Forestry. She had been a lover of insects since she was a little girl.
Hailey Town Center West is located across from the library at 116 S. River Street in Hailey. For more information, contact the library at (208) 788-2036 or visit www.haileypubliclibrary.org.