Wings of wonder: The diverse tapestry of native bee species

Bumble bee on dotted blazing star (Photo by Leta Pezderic/NCC staff)

Celebrating Canada's bee species that are working hard to keep our ecosystems healthy

Close your eyes. What comes to mind when you picture a bee? Perhaps it’s the image of a European honey bee. But they’re not the only busy bees buzzing around.

Did you know that there are over 20,000 bee species worldwide, and that Canada is home to over 800 of them?

Bees are important pollinators for ecosystems worldwide, and assist in the production of the majority of our food crops. They are considered a keystone species and are essential for maintaining the health of natural areas.

This map showcases the diversity of bee species across a network of natural areas that NCC has identified as priorities for conservation.

Number of bee species in NCC natural areas (Observation data collected from NCC and Global Biodiversity Information Facility)

For an interactive experience to learn more about some of the native bee species observed in areas where NCC works in, make a 🐝 bee-line to our story map>

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