2026 March 17 Meeting- Biology and Conservation of Bumble Bees in Orange County

Presentation Date:

March 17, 2026. Doors at 6:30pm, presentation starts at 7:00pm.

Location: 

Duck Club at the San Joaquin River Marsh, Irvine

Description of the talk:

Bumble bees (Bombus sp.) are charismatic social bees, with five species native to Orange County. At the Hammer Lab, they study the gut microbiome of Bombus sp. and other bee genera, with an eye toward bee health and conservation. Toby Hammer and Kristal Watrous will discuss the lab’s ongoing research with bumble bees in Orange County, talk about native species in our area, and ways the community can support and learn more about local native bees in your own backyard.

Kristal’s bio:

Kristal Watrous is a bee biologist (melittologist) and research specialist at UC Irvine. She has been studying native bees for 20 years, focusing on their natural history, nutrition, microbiome, and pollination ecology. Kristal is the vice president of the California Native Bee Society, and an avid fan of iNaturalist.

Photo of K. Watrous

Toby’s bio:

Toby Hammer is an Assistant Professor at UC Irvine. His lab is focused on understanding and protecting native bees, and to training the next generation of bee scientists. Toby’s first research project as an undergraduate involved honey bee behavior, and after detours into plants, ants, beetles, and butterflies. He is happy to again be working on bees and to share their amazing biology with others.