Ohio Bumble bees

Bumble bees are important pollinators that are in decline. Of Ohio’s 16 species, nine are uncommon  or rare. One species with a historic distribution that includes Ohio is listed as federally endangered (the Rusty Patch Bumble Bee) and another has been petitioned as endangered (the Yellow-banded Bumble Bee). In collaboration with Dr. Randy Mitchell (University of Akron) and with funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation to survey bumble bees in the state of Ohio we surveyed Ohio for the Rusty-Patched and the Yellow-Banded bumble bees during the summers of 2017 and 2018. Here is a link to our final report: Bumble bee survey report 2019 .

Above: Rusty Patch Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis). Right The “Bee Team” members from the Goodell lab (OSU) and the Mitchell lab (UA).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goals of the study

  • Document the distributions of Ohio’s bumble bee species.
  • Determine habitat use of Rusty Patch and Yellow-banded Bumble Bees.
  • Determine nesting sites and food resources needed by bumble bee species in Ohio.
  • Recommend managment for bees.