Exploring nonlethal identification methods in grassland bee ecology research

Native bees have been declining due to multiple interacting drivers which include habitat loss and land use change. To help investigate bee community loss in grasslands, we are currently exploring nonlethal research methods for bee identification and floral resource use. For the past four years (2021-2024), we have been examining the efficacy and feasibility of utilizing nonlethal methods on native bees in cattle grazed grasslands at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota. Our methods include photography and pollen swabbing of live bees on field surveys, time-lapse videos of floral visitation, and nonlethal blue vane trapping. In this presentation, we will discuss the steps we used in these methods along with the pros and cons of using these in grazed grasslands before discussing a few case studies and future steps in our research. Our preliminary findings indicate that these nonlethal approaches may be beneficial for identifying certain genera and species of native bees along with identifying the flower species they visit and collect pollen from without removing individuals from grassland communities. It is essential to continue exploring these strategies to help reduce lethal bee collections in future ecological studies, especially in grasslands where native bees are negatively impacted by land use change and habitat loss.