California Photographer Aims to Document Hundreds of Native Bee Species

Krystle Hickman's quest to photograph rare and threatened native bees raises awareness about their importance to local ecosystems.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Krystle Hickman, a photographer without formal science training, is on a mission to document hundreds of native bee species in California that are under threat from climate change and habitat loss. Hickman has photographed over 300 species, including 20 that she believes have never been photographed alive before. Through her work, she hopes to raise awareness about the critical role native bees play in supporting local flora and fauna.

Why it matters

Native bees are essential pollinators that support the survival of many plant species, but they are facing growing threats from factors like climate change and competition from invasive honey bees. Hickman's photographic documentation of these threatened species aims to highlight their importance and the need to protect their habitats.

The details

Hickman, who originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, began photographing honey bees in 2018 but soon shifted her focus to native bees, which she believes are in greater danger. Unlike traditional melittologists who collect and examine dead bee specimens, Hickman is vehemently against capturing bees, worried about harming already threatened species. Instead, she spends hours patiently observing bees in the wild, capturing their behavior and unique physical characteristics through photography. Hickman has forged a path as a bee behavior expert, making new discoveries about native bee activity and phenology that have not been well documented.

  • Hickman began photographing honey bees in 2018.
  • In October 2026, Hickman published a book documenting California's native bees.
  • Since 2021, Hickman has traveled annually to the Oregon-California border to search for the critically endangered Franklin's bumblebee, last seen in 2006.

The players

Krystle Hickman

A photographer without formal science training who is on a quest to document hundreds of species of native bees in California that are under threat from climate change and habitat loss.

Christine Wilkinson

The assistant curator of community science at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, who says Hickman is a perfect example of why it's important to incorporate different perspectives in the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“'Saving the bees means saving their entire ecosystems,'”

— Krystle Hickman

“'There are so many different ways of knowing and relating to the world. Getting engaged as a community scientist can also get people interested in and passionate about really making change.'”

— Christine Wilkinson, Assistant Curator of Community Science, Natural History Museum in Los Angeles

What’s next

Hickman hopes to publish research notes this year on some of her discoveries about native bee behavior and phenology.

The takeaway

Hickman's photographic documentation of threatened native bee species is raising awareness about their critical role in supporting local ecosystems, and demonstrates how community scientists can make valuable contributions to scientific knowledge alongside academic researchers.