Rusty Patched Bumble Bee

Scientific name: Bombus affinis

Once found across much of the eastern United States and Upper Midwest, the rusty patched bumble bee has now disappeared from 90 percent of its historical range. The Twin Cities metro area is home to a remaining population of this rare bee. In 2019, the rusty patched bumble bee became the official state bee of Minnesota! Rusty patched bumble bees emerge early in the spring and are one of the last bees to go into hibernation in the fall. They need a variety of blooming flowers to supply them with nectar and pollen throughout the entire growing season

You Can Help!

In the summer, we need more eyes looking for rusty patched bumble bees. Importantly, due to the federal endangered species protections, only people permitted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service can catch rusty patched bumble bees. You can still photograph them though, as long as you do not disturb them or their habitat while you are at it. Add your sightings of rusty patched (and ALL other bumble bees!) to Bumble Bee Watch. Don’t live in the Twin Cities? Your help is even more important! We expect there to be undiscovered rusty patched populations in places where we have little data, like rural Minnesota and Wisconsin. Knowing where they remain will help us understand what is needed to bring them back.

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