National Pollinator Week Exhibit all the "Buzz"

During the Inter-departmental National Pollinator Week Exhibit hosted on June 21, 2010 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists Steve Hilburger (Program Analyst, USGS Wildlife Program), Sam Droege (Wildlife Biologist, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and Coordinator of the USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory), and Elizabeth Sellers (Manager, Pollinators Project of the USGS National Biological Information Infrastructure) showcased examples of USGS pollinator research and biological informatics tools. The USGS-NBII exhibit included information about the Butterflies and Moths of North America database, the NBII Pollinators project, and the Integrated Taxonomic Information System’s 2009 World Bees Checklist; fact sheets about other relevant USGS research and technologies, and copies of the 2009 and 2010 pollinator posters whose printing was co-funded by the USGS.

Our scientists and those from other federal agencies such as USDA, EPA, FWS, BLM, and NASA and from nonprofit organizations such as the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation spoke to many people about pollinator research and conservation. Many of the visitors to the exhibits also attended a panel discussion on pollinators that was hosted earlier in the day by the USDA. Booth visitors included members of the public (tourists, DC residents, university students, homeowners, and children of all ages), who were visiting the National Mall and other attractions; staff members of other federal agencies; and educators from various institutions. Some visitors stayed at the booth for up to 20 minutes asking questions on a variety of topics, such as how to distinguish bees from flies and other insects; how to attract more or specific species of pollinators to their gardens; and what research is being done or what information is available on wild and managed pollinator species. National Pollinator Week continues through June 27th. To learn more about National Pollinator Week and what you can do to learn more about pollinators, visit the Pollinator Partnership’s Web site - http://www.pollinator.org/.

(Top photo: pictured from left to right: Laurie Adams (The Pollinator Partnership (P2); Steve Hilburger (USGS Wildlife Program); Elizabeth Sellers (NBII Pollinators Project); Sam Droege (USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab). Photo by © 2010 Thomas Van Arsdall, used with permission; Lower photo: examples of USGS pollinator research and biological informatics tools being displayed at the USGS booth. Photo: Elizabeth A. Sellers/NBII).