MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees

Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg

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© 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. Bumble bee look-alikes

Flies that mimic coloration Characteristics: • Antenna variable • No basket • One pair of wings • Short, blunt mouthparts

Photo: Eileen Miller Clearwing Moth

Long curled tongue Long straight antennae No waist

Photo by TexasEagle Bumble bee look-alikes

Large Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa virginica)

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

Andrena

Characteristics: • Small size • Hairy scopa on hind legs, not pollen basket

Photo: Jennifer Hopwood Females Males • Often larger than males •No stinger •Sting present •“Beard” on mandible • Often smaller than females • Often with white or yellow facial hair • Some species have enlarged eyes Female bumble bee leg Male bumble bee leg (non-parasitic)

Photos: Sam Droege Big eyes Long antennae

Regular eyes Regular antennae

Photos: Sam Droege Identifying bumble bees to species

Color patterns can be important, but are not always reliable

Images by Elaine Evans / Xerces Society Identifying bumble bees to species Things to look at other than color patterns Start with yellow sections then follow numbers

Read descriptions to see if it fits

Color patterns can vary in the real world Earliest emergence records in Wisconsin

Queens Workers Males

April May June July August September

Medler and Carney 1963 Bombus / Common Eastern bumble bee

• Nest underground at various depths

• Queens come out mid- spring

•Medium tongue length

•Select food plants: (Thistles), , (Goldenrods)

Photo: Gary Zamzow / Common Eastern bumble bee

• Very common species

• Used commercially; expanding in range

• IUCN Status: Least Concern

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Photo: Gary Zamzow Bombus impatiens / Common Eastern bumble bee

• Thorax mostly yellow; wing bases Female yellow; usually with black spot centrally

•T1 Yellow and all other abdominal segments black

Male

Illustrations: Evans 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), (Vetches)

Photo: Patricia Nankey Bombus bimaculatus (Two-spotted bumble bee)

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least Concern

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Photo: Gary Zamzow Bombus bimaculatus (Two-spotted bumble bee)

• Thorax mostly yellow; wing bases Female yellow; black spot centrally

•T1 Yellow; T2 with two yellow “W”; all other abdominal segments black in

Male

Illustrations: Evans (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: (Milkweeds), Cirsium (Thistles), Helianthus (Sunflowers), Solidago (Goldenrods), Rhus (Sumacs)

Photo: Hannah Gaines Bombus griseocollis (Brown-belted bumble bee)

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least Concern

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Photo: Gary Zamzow Bombus griseocollis (Brown-belted bumble bee)

• Thorax mostly yellow; wing Female bases yellow; black spot centrally

•T1 Yellow •T2 with rusty “swoosh” •All other Male abdominal

Illustrations: Evans segments black (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 Bombus citrinus (Lemon cuckoo bumble bee)

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least Concern

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Photo: Gary Zamzow 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), , Solidago (Goldenrods), •

Photo: Alan Eaton Bombus ternarius / Tri-colored bumble bee

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least Concern

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Photo: Gary Zamzow Bombus ternarius / Tri-colored bumble bee

• Thorax mostly yellow; with Female black “thumb tack” or band

•T1 Yellow •T2-T3 Rusty •T4 Yellow •T5 black

Male

Illustrations: Evans Bombus huntii / Hunt’s bumble bee

• Rare in MN, only encountered in far western part of the state

Male Map: Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society Illustration: Evans Bombus rufocinctus / Red-belted bumble bee

• Nest under or above ground, including in domiciles

• Queens come out late in spring

Photo: R. Bercha Bombus rufocinctus / Red-belted bumble bee

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least Concern

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society Bombus rufocinctus

Female • Small bodied; short hairs; short face

•Variable color pattern

Male

Illustrations: Evans 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 eyes Illustrations: Evans Photo: Molly Murray • 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 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

Illustrations: Evans Photo: Jennifer Hopwood • 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

51% decline

Hatfield et al. 2014 Difficult pairs: Females auricomus pensylvanicus

University of , Cameron et al Also basitarsus, just below pollen basket, outer tip of segment B. auricomus Short spine at top of basitarsus

B. pensylvanicus Long sharp spine at top of basitarsus / 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 • Nest underground, under straw piles

• Queens emerge early in spring

•Short tongue, will rob

•Habitats: Close to or within wooded areas

•Listed as a species of concern in WI 50% decline

Hatfield et al. 2014 Bombus fervidus /Golden Northern bumble bee

• Queens and workers large • Long tongue • Black hairs on head •Long face

Illustrations: Evans Photo: MJ Hatfileld, S Droege •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 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

Illustrations: Evans Photo: Naomi Smith • 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.

7% decline

Hatfield et al. 2014 Difficult pairs: Females fervidus borealis

Predominantly black hairs on Predominantly yellow hairs face and top of head on face and top of head

Side of thorax mostly yellow Side of thorax with large patch of dark hairs

Illustrations: Evans Difficult groups: Males pensylvanicus fervidus borealis

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

Side of thorax with many black hairs

Illustrations: Evans (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 Gardner Photo: Joel Gardner 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 Bombus vagans (Half-black bumble bee)

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least Concern

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Photo: Gary Zamzow (Sanderson’s bumble bee)

• Habitat: In or near woods

• Range: Northern MN

• Nesting: underground

Photo: Joel Gardner Photo: Margarita Miklasevskaja, PCYU, with funding from NSERC-CANPOLIN 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 Bombus sandersoni (Sanderson’s bumble bee)

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least Concern

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Photo: Gary Zamzow Difficult groups: vagans sandersoni

Males: antennae (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 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 Bombus affinis (Rusty-patched bumble bee)

• Rare, declining species

•Nearly 50% decline in range

• Over 90% decline in relative abundance

• IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Photo: Gary Zamzow 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 Nests underground

Males patrol circuits

• Common species

• IUCN Status: Least Concern

Hatfield et al. 2014 (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 B. bohemicus aka ashtoni Bombus bohemicus (Ashton’s cuckoo bumble bee)

• Rare, declining species

•Over 95% decline in range

• Over 95% decline in relative abundance

• IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society

Photo: Gary Zamzow MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bee Surveys 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