The Oregon Bee Atlas: Comprehensive characterization of a state bee fauna with extension-based Master Melittologist volunteers

Most U.S. states have pollinator protection plans but lack the capacity to assess their plans because of enormous gaps in knowledge on their contemporary bee fauna. Although many initiatives have arisen to address this gap, most have been unable to go beyond rediscovering the common bee fauna and are also unable to sustain these modest efforts across more than a few years. The Oregon Bee Atlas provides an example of how to structure a state-level program to characterize a bee fauna, and document its floral associations. The Atlas is closely connected to the nation’s first Master Melittologist program, which trains volunteers to collect, pin and database specimens (Apprentice level), as well identify bumble bees to species and other bees to genus (Journey level). Over 230 trained volunteers have generated >200,000 specimens, many (80%) with documented floral hosts, resulting in >125,000 floral associations between more than 1,500 flowering plant species and nearly 700 bee species. Volunteers have discovered new species, new introductions, and novel plant host records under the direction of the taxonomist. The Master Melittologist approach has most recently been adapted to Washington and is being planned for expansion to New Mexico in 2024.