Honey bees are incredibly important to our agricultural system — we couldn’t enjoy many of our favorite foods without them! But like many of us, they’re not native to Georgia — or even North America, for that matter!
This illustrated presentation will introduce you to a few of the more than 500 bee species native to Georgia. Discover how native bees, including bumblebees, mason bees, leafcutter bees, sweat bees and carpenter bees, are similar to — and different from — their better-known honey bee cousins. Learn where these vital pollinators live, what they do, how they survive and how to tell them apart. Finally, explore issues of competition, pathogen spillover and whether honey bees can negatively affect the survival and success of native bee species.
Date: Saturday, April 17
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Fee: $75 (Member $70)
Age: 18 yrs +
Deadline: April 7
Instructor: Peter Helfrich
About the Instructor
Peter Helfrich is a backyard beekeeper and native bee enthusiast who lives in Decatur, Georgia. He is a past president of the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association and currently chairs the city of Decatur’s Bee City USA program. He frequently speaks about bees in Decatur schools and helps organize the city’s annual National Pollinator Week festival. In 2023, he was recognized as a Decatur Hometown Hero for his work on behalf of bees and was named the Georgia Beekeepers Association’s 2024 Beekeeper of the Year.