New and rare bee species discovered

  The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) recently took on a program inspired by a similar program in Oregon, and made some surprising discoveries. The Second Annual  Washington Bee Atlas (WABA) collected and identified records of nearly 30 new or rare bee species in the state. For 17 species, it was the first time spotted in Washington. WABA also found 12 species which had not been recorded in the state for at least 50 years.

     One of them was Ceratina micheneri, a small carpenter bee no more than 3/8 of an inch long with a gentle reputation of only stinging if seriously provoked. And, like the late Johnny Cash, it appears all in black. WABA found specimens in both Klickitat and Clark counties, but surprisingly not in Skamania County. The last one recorded in the state was in 1945, 81 years ago.

     WABA volunteers collected the new and rare bee species from 2023–2025. Volunteers submitted their bees to WSDA’s Pollinator Program for identification at the end of each season, but the identification process can take months to years, depending on how rare the bee is and how difficult it is to identify.

     A press release from WSDA outlined the program’s importance. “Understanding which native bee species are in Washington and how they are faring over time is important not only for scientific research and conservation, but also for the region’s food security,” it read.

      “Reliance on honey bees alone puts food supplies in a precarious position as honey bees face increasing challenges. Additionally, honey bees will not pollinate certain crops, such as legumes, and crops receive better pollination and show improved fruit set when native pollinators are present. Supporting native bees helps ensure that crops will be pollinated even if honey bee populations decline.

     “WABA’s effort to document the state’s native bees and their host plants will provide data necessary to conserve and help these essential pollinators thrive. The data collected will also inform plans to develop ecoregion-specific plant lists and seed mix recommendations.”