Agricultural Research Service scientists are studying pollen bees, which are very effective crop pollinators. Pollen bees, including digger, bumble, sweat, carpenter, hornfaced, orchard, leafcutter and shaggy fuzzyfoot bees, act differently than honey bees. Pollen bees are gentle and rarely sting, according to Suzanne Batra, who has studied them for over 20 years.
The bee had landed on the ground, ready to walk into its nest in the soil, when Suzanne Batra reached for it, gently taking hold ...