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1 © 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. 1 MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg

MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

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Page 1: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

1

© 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

11

MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees

Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg

Page 2: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Photo: Eileen Miller

Bumble bee look-alikes

Characteristics:

• Antenna variable

• No pollen basket

• One pair of wings

• Short, blunt mouthparts

Flies that mimic coloration

Page 3: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Clearwing Moth

Photo by TexasEagle

Long curled tongueLong straight antennaeNo waist

Page 4: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Characteristics:

• Large size, robust body

• Yellow hair on thorax

• Shiny abdomen

• Hairy scopa on hind legs, not pollen basket

• Males with yellow markings, not hairs, on face

• Nest in hard wood

Photo: Jennifer Hopwood

Bumble bee look-alikes

Large Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa virginica)

Page 5: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Characteristics:

• Small size

• Hairy scopa on hind legs, not pollen basket

Photo: Jennifer Hopwood

Bumble bee look-alikes

Andrena

Page 6: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Males

•No stinger

•“Beard” on mandible

• Often smaller than females

• Often with white or yellow facial hair

• Some species have enlarged eyes

Females

• Often larger than males

•Sting present

Page 7: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Female bumble bee leg

(non-parasitic)

Male bumble bee leg

Photos: Sam Droege

Page 8: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Big eyesLong antennae

Regular eyesRegular antennae

Photos: Sam Droege

Page 9: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Identifying bumble bees to species

Color patterns can be important, but are not always reliable

Images by Elaine Evans / Xerces Society

Page 10: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Identifying bumble bees to species

Things to look at other than color patterns

Page 11: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Start with yellow sections

then follow numbers

Read descriptions to

see if it fits

Color patterns can vary

in the real world

Page 12: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Earliest emergence records in Wisconsin

April May June July August September

Queens WorkersMales

Medler and Carney 1963

Page 13: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus impatiens / Common Eastern bumble bee

• Nest underground at

various depths

• Queens come out mid-

spring

•Medium tongue length

•Select food plants:

Cirsium (Thistles),

Eupatorium, Solidago

(Goldenrods)

Photo: Gary Zamzow

Page 14: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus impatiens / Common Eastern bumble bee

• Very common species

• Used commercially;

expanding in range

• IUCN Status: Least

Concern

Photo: Gary Zamzow

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Page 15: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

• Thorax mostly

yellow; wing bases

yellow; usually with

black spot centrally

•T1 Yellow and all

other abdominal

segments black

Male

Female

Bombus impatiens / Common Eastern bumble bee

Illustrations: Evans

Page 16: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus bimaculatus (Two-spotted bumble bee)

• Nests underground but

also on surface, and uses

nesting boxes

• Queens emerge early in

the spring

•Tongue length: medium

• Select food plants:

Cirsium (Thistles),

Hypericum (St. John’s

Wort), Rosa, Solidago

(Goldenrods), Vicia

(Vetches)

Photo: Patricia Nankey

Page 17: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least

Concern

Photo: Gary Zamzow

Bombus bimaculatus (Two-spotted bumble bee)

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Page 18: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Male

Female

Bombus bimaculatus (Two-spotted bumble bee)

• Thorax mostly

yellow; wing bases

yellow; black spot

centrally

•T1 Yellow; T2 with

two yellow “W”; all

other abdominal

segments black in

Illustrations: Evans

Page 19: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus griseocollis (Brown-belted bumble bee)

• Nest on ground or above

the surface, including in

outbuildings

• Queens come out mid-

spring

•Tongue length: medium

•Select food plants:

Asclepias (Milkweeds),

Cirsium (Thistles),

Helianthus (Sunflowers),

Solidago (Goldenrods),

Rhus (Sumacs)

Photo: Hannah Gaines

Page 20: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least

Concern

Photo: Gary Zamzow

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Bombus griseocollis (Brown-belted bumble bee)

Page 21: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

• Thorax mostly

yellow; wing

bases yellow;

black spot

centrally

•T1 Yellow

•T2 with rusty

“swoosh”

•All other

abdominal

segments blackMale

Female

Bombus griseocollis (Brown-belted bumble bee)

Illustrations: Evans

Page 22: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus citrinus (Lemon cuckoo bumble bee)

• Parasite of B. impatiens,

bimaculatus, vagans

• Range: All of MN

• Females: Thorax usually all yellow,

T1-T2 usually black, T3 usually

yellow, T4-T6 black

• Males: T1-T2 yellow, T3 usually

yellow, T4-T7 black

• Very short malar space

• No pollen basket

• Similar species: sandersoni,

vagans, rufocinctus, perplexus

Page 23: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Photo: Gary Zamzow

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Bombus citrinus (Lemon cuckoo bumble bee)

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least

Concern

Page 24: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus ternarius / Tri-colored bumble bee

• Nest underground,

sometimes at large depths

in sandy soil

• Queens come out early

spring

•Tongue length: short

•Select food plants:

Asclepias (Milkweeds),

Rubus, Solidago

(Goldenrods), Vaccinium •

Photo: Alan Eaton

Page 25: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least

Concern

Photo: Gary Zamzow

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Bombus ternarius / Tri-colored bumble bee

Page 26: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

• Thorax mostly

yellow; with

black “thumb

tack” or band

•T1 Yellow

•T2-T3 Rusty

•T4 Yellow

•T5 black

Male

Female

Bombus ternarius / Tri-colored bumble bee

Illustrations: Evans

Page 27: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus huntii / Hunt’s bumble bee

Male

• Rare in MN, only

encountered in far

western part of

the state

Map: Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces SocietyIllustration: Evans

Page 28: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus rufocinctus / Red-belted bumble bee

• Nest under or above

ground, including in

domiciles

• Queens come out late in

spring

Photo: R. Bercha

Page 29: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus rufocinctus / Red-belted bumble bee

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least

Concern

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Page 30: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

• Small bodied;

short hairs;

short face

•Variable color

pattern

Male

Female

Bombus rufocinctus

Illustrations: Evans

Page 31: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus auricomus / Black and gold bumble bee

• Queens and workers large

•Dark wings

•Usually yellow hairs on top of head

• T1, T5 black, T2-T4 yellow

• Large males with large eyesPhoto: Molly MurrayIllustrations: Evans

Page 32: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

• Nests under and above

ground, will also nest in urban

areas

• Known to nest in wooden

bumble bee homes

• Colonies 30-50 workers

• Queens come out in late

spring

• Long tongue

Hatfield et al. 2014

Page 33: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus pensylvanicus /American bumble bee

• Queens large, workers medium to large

• Wings dark in color

• Malar space longer than wide

• Ocelli close to suborbital line

•Males often with orange on Ab 7

Photo: Jennifer Hopwood

Illustrations: Evans

Page 34: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

51% decline

• Nest at surface or above

ground

• Queens emerge late in spring

• Colonies 40 -100 workers

• Aggressive in defense of nest

• Listed as a species of concern

in WI

Hatfield et al. 2014

Page 35: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

auricomus pensylvanicus

Difficult pairs: Females

University of Illinois, Cameron et al

Page 36: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

B. pensylvanicusLong sharp spine at top of basitarsus

B. auricomusShort spine at top of basitarsus

Also basitarsus, just below pollen basket, outer tip of segment

Page 37: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus terricola / Yellow-banded bumble bee

• Medium sized

• Wings dark

• T1, T4 black, T2-T3 yellow, T5

black with fringe of yellow

• Malar space wider than long

(round face)

• Similar to B. pensylvanicus, but

smaller

Pocket guide and Wanted posters

available

Photo: Jodi DeLong

Page 38: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

50% decline

• Nest underground, under

straw piles

• Queens emerge early in

spring

•Short tongue, will rob nectar

•Habitats: Close to or within wooded areas

•Listed as a species of

concern in WI

Hatfield et al. 2014

Page 39: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus fervidus /Golden Northern bumble bee

• Queens and workers large

• Long tongue

• Black hairs on head

•Long face

Photo: MJ Hatfileld, S DroegeIllustrations: Evans

Page 40: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

•Nests on surface, tall grass,

sometimes underground

• Colonies are large (100-

200)

• Aggressive in defending

their nests

• Habitats: Open farmland and fields

• Recent survey shows this

bee in rapid decline

•IUCN Status: Vulnerable

Hatfield et al. 2014, the Xerces Society

Page 41: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus borealis /Northern amber bumble bee

• Workers medium in size

•Long tongue

• Face and top of head covered

with yellow-white hairs

• T1 – T4 amber yellow, 5-6 black

• Malar space longer than broad

•More common in northern MN

Photo: Naomi SmithIllustrations: Evans

Page 42: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

7% decline

• Nests underground but

uses nesting boxes, and

may be fairly flexible

• Queens emerge later in

the spring

• Colonies may reach

100 workers

• Habitats: Close to or within wooded areas.

Hatfield et al. 2014

Page 43: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

fervidus borealis

Difficult pairs: Females

Predominantly black hairs on face and top of head

Side of thorax mostly yellow

Predominantly yellow hairs on face and top of head

Side of thorax with large patch of dark hairs

Illustrations: Evans

Page 44: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

pensylvanicus fervidus borealis

Difficult groups: Males

Often with orange on Ab 7 Yellow on face and top of head

Side of thorax with many black hairs

Illustrations: Evans

Page 45: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus vagans (Half-black bumble bee)

• Habitat: Various; more

common in forests

• Forages in deep shade

• Range: All of MN; more

common in north

• Nesting: mostly

underground, sometimes

aboveground

• Colony size: 70-110

Photo: Joel GardnerPhoto: Joel Gardner

Page 46: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus vagans (Half-black bumble bee)

• T1-T2 yellow, T3-T6/7 black

(males often with yellow hairs

on far sides of tergites)

• Long malar space (horsey

face)

• Usually yellow hairs on top of

head

• Black hairs on thorax usually

confined to spot in middle

• Male antenna with F1 long,

hairless

• Similar species: sandersoni,

rufocinctus, perplexus, affinis

Page 47: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least

Concern

Photo: Gary Zamzow

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Bombus vagans (Half-black bumble bee)

Page 48: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus sandersoni (Sanderson’s bumble bee)

• Habitat: In or near woods

• Range: Northern MN

• Nesting: underground

Photo: Margarita Miklasevskaja, PCYU, with funding from NSERC-CANPOLINPhoto: Joel Gardner

Page 49: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus sandersoni (Sanderson’s bumble bee)

• T1-T2 yellow, T3-T6/7 usually

black (T5 sometimes yellow)

• Moderate malar space

• May have all black hairs on top

of head

• Usually at least a few black hairs

by wing bases; sometimes

complete black band

• Male antenna with F1 short,

fringed with hairs

• Similar species: vagans,

rufocinctus, perplexus, affinis

Page 50: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least

Concern

Photo: Gary Zamzow

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Bombus sandersoni (Sanderson’s bumble bee)

Page 51: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

vagans sandersoni

Difficult groups:

Males: antennae

Page 52: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus affinis (Rusty-patched bumble bee)

• Habitat: Various; recent sightings

mostly in urban parks/gardens

• Range: Most of MN; more common

in southeast

• Nesting: underground

• Colony size: up to 200

• Frequent nectar robber

• In decline compared to pre-1997

prevalence

• Federally listed as endangered

Photo: Joel Gardner

Page 53: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus affinis (Rusty-patched bumble bee)

• T1 yellow, T2 yellow with orange

patch (except queens), T3-T6/7 black

• Usually black band between wings

• Hair on head usually all black

• Similar species: griseocollis,

vagans, sandersoni, rufocinctus,

perplexus

Page 54: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

• Rare, declining species

•Nearly 50% decline in

range

• Over 90% decline in

relative abundance

• IUCN Status: Critically

Endangered

Photo: Gary Zamzow

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Bombus affinis (Rusty-patched bumble bee)

Page 55: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus perplexus confusing bumble bee

• No obvious spot on thorax

•This species is highly

variable in coloration

• Abdomen with yellow on

bands 1 to 3

Illustrations: Evans

Page 56: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Nests underground

Males patrol circuits

Hatfield et al. 2014

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least

Concern

Page 57: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Bombus bohemicus (Ashton’s cuckoo bumble bee)

• Parasite of B. affinis, terricola

• Range: All of MN

• Declining along with hosts.

Species of concern in WI.

• Sides of thorax with black hair, T1

black (females) or yellow (males), T2

black, T3-T6/7 mixed black, yellow,

white (especially female T4)

• Hair on head mostly black

• No corbicula

• Similar species: insularis, flavidus

Photos: Margarita Miklasevskaja, PCYU, with funding from NSERC-CANPOLIN

Page 58: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

B. bohemicus aka ashtoni

Page 59: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

• Rare, declining species

•Over 95% decline in

range

• Over 95% decline in

relative abundance

• IUCN Status: Critically

Endangered

Photo: Gary Zamzow

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Bombus bohemicus (Ashton’s cuckoo bumble bee)

Page 60: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bee Surveys

Page 61: MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees - University of Minnesota...MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg Photo: Eileen Miller Bumble bee look-alikes Characteristics: •Antenna

Survey Protocols

• Conduct three surveys: late June, mid July, early August

• Observe flower patch for bee activity. If there is no activity, move ~1 mile down the road.

• If there is bee activity, begin survey.

• Start timer and collect bumble bees from flowers into vials

for 10 minutes of collecting time

• Record and release individuals of all identifiable species

• Photograph and record individuals of all unidentifiable species

• Repeat until data has been collected at five locations