Over the last three years, 20 master gardeners in Pennsylvania have collected over 25,000 bee specimens, significantly enhancing academic understanding of wild-bee populations.
Sarah Kania, an entomologist at Penn State, remarked on the unprecedented volume of specimens collected and the new insights gained, stating, 'Last year was a huge year; we got 16,000 bees. I saw bees I'd never seen before.'
Environmental educator Peg Friese, a participant in the bee monitoring effort, recalls her surge in bee collection enthusiasm, noting, 'It's addictive,' as she surpassed previous collection totals.
Retired IT professional Stephanie Szakal found a new appreciation for wild bees through her involvement, revealing, 'I had never really looked at or noticed wild bees. Now I can't go anywhere outdoors and not look for them.'
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