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Pollinating the prairie, what kind of bumble could that be?
As mid-summer gives way to August and September, new blooms are popping up throughout the grounds at Aldo Leopold Nature Center. On an afternoon hike through the prairie, one might spot a number of different bumble bees sipping on the pollen of Joe Pye weed, Culver's root or bergamot blooming near the pond. At first glance, these bumble bees might appear to be the same species, but upon further investigation, some have slight differences in their coloring.
According to UW-Madison's Bumble Bees of Wisconsin's site, there are 250 different species of bumble bee found around the world, with 20 species historically found in Wisconsin. To tell the species apart, one must look at the coloring of the insect's head, thorax and abdomen...which is not always an easy task on a bumbling bee. Thankfully, the UW Entomology Department has a great identification guide to help people identify the bumble bees they see.
While at first glance, one might think that the images above are of the endangered rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), these images are actually of another species, the red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus). A common species found in Wisconsin, the red-belted bumble bee can be difficult to identify because of its diverse color pattern, but thanks to the Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade, we were able to get a positive ID.
Bumble bees are incredible native insects that live in annual colonies. The colony's goal is to bring in as much pollen and nectar as possible to ensure the production of new queens and males at the end of the season. Mated queens are the sole survivors each winter, emerging from hibernation in their underground dens each spring to form new nests.
Unfortunately, due to several different factors, including climate change, pesticide use, habitat loss and disease, some bumble bee populations, such as the rusty-patched bumble bee, have been on the decline for many years.
#PhenologyFriday #Bumblebees #RedBeltedBumblebee #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsforEveryone @ Aldo Leopold Nature Center
