A new count of Vermont’s bee species has identified nine species not previously reported in the state, bringing the total number of species here to 352, more than any other northern New England state.

The decade-long project analyzed nearly 80,000 bee reports — a combination of citizen-submitted data from public databases, scientific papers and museum collections, according to a University of Vermont announcement.

Of the 352 species identified in Vermont, the authors say 60% likely need conservation support. The authors also found Vermont is playing host to boreal bee species more often found in the higher mountains of the American West.

Community scientists help find bees

“We recruited and trained community science volunteers to find, photograph and share wild bee encounters to our iN

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