Back Yard Beekeepers Association Welcomes Dr. Jordan Kueneman for Program on Ground-Nesting Bees
Tuesday, September 29 in Weston, Connecticut
WESTON, CT — Some of the most important native bees may be living right beneath our feet!
The Back Yard Beekeepers Association (BYBA) in Connecticut will welcome Dr. Jordan Kueneman of Cornell University on Tuesday, September 29, for an in-person presentation exploring the fascinating world of ground-nesting bees. Ground-nesting bees make up a significant portion of the native bee population, yet they often go unnoticed because of their solitary behavior and unusual nesting habits. Dr. Kueneman will discuss what researchers are learning about these bees, why they choose particular nesting locations, and what can be done to help protect successful nesting sites.
The meeting will be held on September 29 at Norfield Congregational Church, 64 Norfield Road in Weston, CT. Doors open at 7:00 PM, giving attendees time to socialize and meet other members of the club. The presentation begins at 7:30 PM.
The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is requested at backyardbeekeepers.com. The program will be offered in person only and there will be no virtual attendance option.
Dr. Jordan Kueneman is a research associate at Cornell University, where he works in the Danforth Lab in the Department of Entomology. He earned his Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, focusing on conservation medicine and host-associated microbiomes under the mentorship of Dr. Valerie McKenzie. Following his doctoral work, Dr. Kueneman spent four years at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama studying plant and animal microbiomes. While there, he led a large-scale research project examining bee microbiomes across different life-history strategies, seasons, and geographic distributions. Today, Dr. Kueneman leads Project GNBee, a research initiative focused on understanding why solitary ground-nesting bees form nesting aggregations in particular locations, what determines whether those colonies remain successful over time, and how important nesting areas can be protected.
BYBA members who are unable to attend will be able to view a recording of the program afterward in the Members Only section of the BYBA website under BYBA Presentations, along with recordings of past monthly meetings. Information about membership is also available on the website.
Questions? Contact BYBA at reg@backyardbeekeepers.com.
The Back Yard Beekeepers Association (BYBA) is one of the nation’s largest regional clubs for beekeeping hobbyists, with more than 400 members ranging from beginning beekeepers to those who have enjoyed the hobby for many years. Members share an interest in the remarkable world of honey bees and beekeeping. BYBA’s mission is to provide a forum for sharing knowledge and mutual interests in beekeeping while educating the public about the benefits of beekeeping. For more information, visit backyardbeekeepers.com.
