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.