BeeMachine News

We are excited to announce a major update to BeeMachine! Our identification tool now combines advanced image recognition with spatial and temporal date, meaning we now use your photo as well as the location and date of your sighting for more accurate species predictions.

Many bee species are only found in certain regions or are active during certain times of the year. By factoring in when and where you made your sighting, BeeMachine is better able to distinguish between similar looking species and provide IDs that are more relevant to your area and season.

To get the most accurate identification, make sure you enter the correct date and location for each sighting. Accurate information helps BeeMachine make the best prediction possible and also improves the quality of our community’s data for research and conservation.

Active now on the website and coming soon to the mobile app. Give it a try with your next sighting and let us know what you think!

New feature alert! You can now add tags, or keyworkds, to your sightings! Tags help you organize, search, and discover sightings by flower type, bee behavior, location, or anything you find interesting. Coming soon to the mobile app!

This feature is perfect for groups or projects - just use the same tag (like your group or project name) to connect all your members’ sightings. Whether you’re part of a community science group, class, club, or research project, tags help you find and share observations as a team. Check out the Groups tab on the left to see all the sightings for each tag.

Try it out by adding tags like “bumblebee,” “urban garden,” “native wildflower,” or your own group’s name when you share your next sighting. You can search existing tags or create your own new tag that others can find and use. Your tags will help the community find and learn from your observations and make BeeMachine more fun and useful!