Introduction to Native Bees with Emma Guzy

Did you know that California is home to over 1600 different species of bees? While most of us are familiar with the introduced European Honey Bee, Apis mellifera, and can probably recognize a bumble bee or carpenter bee, there is a wide diversity of bee species living in our gardens and natural landscapes, just waiting to be discovered and observed.

Join entomologist and conservation specialist Emma Guzy for a workshop about native bees. We will start in the classroom setting with an overview of how to identify the major bee families in California. In the afternoon we will observe bees in their natural settings as we explore the gardens and natural areas around the Laguna Foundation. The instructor will demonstrate how to safely handle bees for catch-and-release viewing. We will gather indoors again to view our live bees and compare them to pinned specimens and field guides.

Instructor Bio: Emma Guzy serves as a Pollinator Conservationist for the non-profit Conservation Works. A Biology graduate of Sonoma State University, Emma is dedicated to increasing biodiversity and fostering a deeper community appreciation for the world of entomology. She specializes in public engagement, translating complex conservation science into actionable steps through interactive workshops, community events, and volunteer planting days. Emma credits her passion for insects to the Sonoma State Entomology Department, who she worked closely with in her final semesters. Driven by the mantra to "never stop learning," she strives to inspire that same curiosity in everyone she meets while building resilient habitats for our most essential species.

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Host or Publisher Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation