about bees
There are over 360 species of bee found in Toronto. Of course, not all are active at the same time or location. Some bees emerge in early spring while others wait till mid-summer. Some build up large colonies that are active for the entire growing season while others live alone. By studying the bees that visit redbud trees, we will learn more about how urbanization and climate change are impacting these important spring pollinators.
To study bees we use various kinds of monitoring traps. You might be visiting this page because you saw our nest boxes or traps installed at a tree or park in Toronto. These traps will provide us with data on the diversity of bees found at different times and places in the city. Some of the bees collected will be used in further experiments to understand how climate change and urbanization are affecting bee activities.
​
To learn more about bees, please check out the Bees of Toronto and the City's draft Pollinator Protection Strategy.