Scientists have unveiled the secret microbial world that is vital to bees’ populations, and our food supply. This exciting new discovery beckons a new perspective for gardening practices that would not only safeguard adult and larval bees, but also protect the invisible partnership they share with their microscopic allies.

As part of this 60-minute webinar, our presenters will show a new short film that unveils the secret microbial world of bees. SymBEEosis is an informative yet cinematic documentary, part of which was filmed at the UW Arboretum. After the film there will be time for questions.

Presented by: Prarthana Dharampal and Shawn Steffan, UW-Madison Department of Entomology

Shawn A Steffan is a food-web ecologist and agricultural entomologist, investigating ways to understand animal and microbial ecology as a means to protect pollinators and agricultural productivity. Prarthana Dharampal is a microbial ecologist, with the overarching research question: how do microbes shape the structure and function of food-webs and the biology of other organisms within them?