AC3 Bee Hunting Field Protocol

This resource provides a step-by-step field protocol for implementing Bee Hunting, a method used to recruit, mark, and track foraging honey bees while collecting standardized field data. The protocol includes procedures for preparing sucrose rewards, recruiting and marking bees, conducting field observations, recording bee flight directions, and collecting bee samples for genetic analyses. It also includes recommended materials, safety considerations, and guidance for organizing field activities over multiple days. The protocol was developed as part of the Arecibo C3 project to support consistent data collection in educational and research settings. Although originally designed for school-based field experiences, it can also be used by researchers, community organizations, and other groups interested in implementing Bee Hunting using standardized procedures. Field data are intended to be recorded using the Arecibo C3 Bee Hunting data collection application, which was developed to ensure consistent and efficient data recording across participants.