National Geographic photographer Crystal Hickman showcases native bees and new book

Crystal Hickman, National Geographic Explorer and conservation photographer, discussed native California bees, her field research and her recently published book The ABC's of California Native Bees (released Oct. 21). Hickman described native bees as essential pollinators and said many species are ecological specialists: "a lot of these bees, about 20 to 45% are specialist pollinators," she said, meaning some bees rely on a single plant family.

Hickman said California is especially rich in bee diversity, citing roughly 1,643 species in the state — about 8% of the world’s bee species — and explained the book organizes one species for each alphabet letter to highlight different ecosystems, from deserts to islands to backyards. She described field methods (long hours, using iNaturalist to find flowering plants) and equipment (a Nikon D500 and a Nikon Z9 with a Nikkor 105mm lens, plus diopters) used to photograph small, fast subjects.

Hickman recounted photographing a Mojave Desert bee not seen alive in decades and described how community science and careful plant identification support targeted field expeditions. She noted that most native bees are solitary and rarely sting, distinguishing them from managed honeybees.

The interview offered natural-history context and outreach information rather than policy prescriptions; Hickman encouraged viewers to consult her website and the book for identification resources and events on her tour schedule.