American Bumble Bee Bombus pensylvanicus

Texas Master Naturalist 2020 Certification Pin Bumble Bee Physiology and Foraging

Physiology Intelligence Long-tongues Innovation

• Can fly in • Learn to • Visit diverse • Use their cold/wet access flowers strength to conditions resources their advantage

Source: Bumble Bee Conservation Trust; The Xerces Society/Rich Hatfield and Eric Lee Mader Bumble Bee Life History

• Annual Species

• Queen Emerges in the Spring Gravid

• Cavity & Ground Nester

• Incubates eggs when establishing a new nest Bumble Bee Life History

Large Nest Sizes

Cuckoos?

Fall Mating & Dispersal

Winter Hibernation State of the Bumble Bees of North America

Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Near Threatened Least Concern Data Deficient

Source: IUCN Red List Bumble Bees of Texas

Bumble Bee Species IUCN Rank Least Bombus griseocolis Concern Least Bombus impatiens Concern Least Bombus bimaculatus Concern Critically Bombus variabilis* Endangered Bombus pensylvanicus* Vulnerable Least Bombus auricomus Concern Bombus fervidus Vulnerable

Bombus fraternus Endangered

Source: IUCN Red List, Photo: Ross Winton American Bumble Bee Bombus pensylvanicus

1914-Present American Bumble Bee Bombus pensylvanicus

Current vs. Historic Range Causes of Population Decline

Source: Jack Ohman, The Sacramento Bee 5/7/2013 Causes of Population Decline Habitat Loss

Photo: Eric Mader, Matthew Shepherd Causes of Population Decline Pesticides

Source: USGS Pesticide National Synthesis Project Causes of Population Decline Pesticides

Source: IUCN Red List, Photo: Ross Winton Causes of Population Decline Disease & Competition

• Moving non-native species around the globe

• Moving and amplifying pathogens • Nosema bombi

Biological Systems • Unregulated in 48 U.S. States Koppert , • CA and OR exceptions Marshalpr Photo: Photos Photo: Photos by Agricultural Pollination Services

Tomatoes

Peppers

Eggplant

Blueberries

Cranberries

Clover

Squash

Melon Buzz Pollination

~ 8% of all flowers are primarily pollinated by buzz pollination

Shooting stars (Dodecatheon)

Sennas (Senna)

Pitcher plants (Heliamphora)

Flax lilies (Dianella)

Madrone (Arbutus)

Guinea flowers (Hibbertia)

Some members of Solanaceae family (eggplant, Baskauf tomato, potato)

Some members of genus Vaccinium (blueberry, cranberry) Photo: Craig Campbell, Steven Pollination Services

Aureolaria, Bidens, Cirsium, Cucurbita, Daucus, Eupatorium, Galactia, Hydrolea, Hypericum, Kuhnistera, Liatris, Malus, Medicago, Opuntia, Pontederia, Rhus, Richardia, Rubus, Spiraea, Vernonia and Vicia. Abutilon, Actinomeria, Aesculus, Agastache, Amelanchier, Amorpha, Antennaria, Arctium, Asclepias, Aster, Astragalus, Baptisia, Blephilia, Boltonia, Brauneria, Campanula, Cassia, Cephalanthus, Cerastium, Cercis, Circaea, Claytonia, Clematis, Collinsia, Convolvulus, Coreopsis, Cornus, Crataegus, Crotalaria, Cuphea, Delphinium, Desmodium, Dentaria, Dianthera, Dicentra, Diospyros, Dipsacus, Dodecatheon, Eryngium, Frasera, Gaura, Gentiana, Geranium, Gerardia, Gymnocladus, Helenium, Helianthus, Heliopsis, Heuchera, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Hydrophyllum, Impatiens, Ipomoea, Iris, Isopyrum, Krigia, Lantana, Leonurus, Lepedeza, Linaria, Lippia, Lithospermum, Lobelia, Lonicera, Ludwigia, Lycopus, Marrubium, Martinia, Melilotus, Mertensia, Mimulus, Monarda, Nelumbo, Nepeta, Oenothera, Orobanche, Oxalis, Pastinaca, Pelatostemum, Pentstemon, Philadelphus, Phlox, Physostegia, Plantago, Podophyllum, Polemonium, Polygonatum, Polygonum, Polytaenia, Potentilla, Prenathes, Prunella, Prunus, Psoralea, Pycnanthemum, Pyrus, Ranunculus, Rhamnus, Ribes, Robinia, Rosa, Rudbeckia, Ruellia, Sagittaria, Salix, Scutellaria, Seymeria, Sida, Silene, Silphium, Sium, Solanum, Solidago, Specularia, Stachys, Staphylea, Strophostyles, Stylosanthes, Symphoricarpus, Tecoma, Teucrium, Tilia, Tradescantia, Triosteum, Trifolium, Uvularia, Verbascum, Verbesina, Verbina, Vernonia, Veronica, Viburnum, Viola, Vitus and Zizia Photo: Ross WintonPhoto: Ross Get Involved Keep Gathering Data Get Involved Keep Gathering Data Get Involved Establish Habitat

Create pollinator habitat in your backyard

Get involved in local planting and restoration events

Encourage your local city or town to become an official Bee City American Bumble Bee Bombus pensylvanicus

• Iconic Texas Bumble Bee

• Hard Working & Adaptable

• Provide Vital Services American Bumble Bee Bombus pensylvanicus

Texas Master Naturalist 2020 Certification Pin