american bumble bee
TRANSCRIPT
American Bumble BeeBombus pensylvanicus
Texas Master Naturalist
2020 Certification Pin
Bumble Bee Physiology and Foraging
Source: Bumble Bee Conservation Trust; The Xerces Society/Rich Hatfield and Eric Lee Mader
• Can fly in cold/wet conditions
• Learn to access resources
• Visit diverse flowers
• Use their strength to their advantage
Physiology Intelligence Long-tongues Innovation
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
Source: IUCN Red List
Critically Endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Data Deficient
Bumble Bees of Texas
Source: IUCN Red List, Photo: Ross Winton
Bumble Bee Species IUCN Rank
Bombus griseocolisLeast
Concern
Bombus impatiensLeast
Concern
Bombus bimaculatusLeast
Concern
Bombus variabilis*Critically
Endangered
Bombus pensylvanicus* Vulnerable
Bombus auricomusLeast
Concern
Bombus fervidus Vulnerable
Bombus fraternus Endangered
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 DeclineHabitat Loss
Photo: Eric Mader, Matthew Shepherd
Causes of Population DeclinePesticides
Source: USGS Pesticide National Synthesis Project
Causes of Population DeclinePesticides
Source: IUCN Red List, Photo: Ross Winton
Causes of Population DeclineDisease & Competition
Photo
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• Moving non-native species around the globe
• Moving and amplifying pathogens• Nosema bombi
• Unregulated in 48 U.S. States• CA and OR exceptions
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, tomato, potato)
Some members of genus Vaccinium (blueberry, cranberry)
Photo
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Pollination ServicesAureolaria, 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 ZiziaPh
oto
: R
oss
Win
ton
Get InvolvedKeep Gathering Data
Get InvolvedKeep Gathering Data
Get InvolvedEstablish 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 BeeBombus pensylvanicus
• Iconic Texas Bumble Bee
• Hard Working & Adaptable
• Provide Vital Services
American Bumble BeeBombus pensylvanicus
Texas Master Naturalist
2020 Certification Pin