Survey of the critically endangered Rusty Patched Bumble bee (Bombus affinis) at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, (USDA-FS) Ill.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Dr. Derek W. Rosenberger

Project Type

Student Scholarship

Scholarship Domain(s)

Scholarship of Discovery

Presentation Type

Presentation

Abstract

Recent declines in Bumble bee (Bombus spp.) populations and range(s) are attributed to habitat loss, pesticides and invasive pathogens. Four species have undergone notable declines in Illinois, with the rusty patched bumble bee (B. affinis), recently being listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Prairie restoration over the past 20 years at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (MNTP), a 20,000 acre preserve near Wilmington, IL, resulting in a florally rich prairie habitat. Despite known populations in surrounding counties, there had not been a comprehensive bumble bee study at MNTP. Our research objective was to determine presence and abundance of B. affinis and other Bombus species of conservation concern at MNTP. We hypothesized that B. affinis would be located at Midewin due to confirmed sightings in neighboring counties but that the occurrence of B. affinis would be low. In this study we recorded the presence of all bumble bee species in MNTP across 12 transects from June-August 2018, by sweep netting. Nearly 800 bumble bees, representing a total of 9 species were recorded during this survey. B. affinis was observed only once in these transect surveys, the first known record in Will county, comprising just 0.13% of all bumble bees captured. Three other bumble bee species of conservation concern, B. vagans, B. pensylvanicus and B. fervidus were also found, representing 10% of all captured bumble bees. The results of this study show that MNTP currently supports bumble bee species of conservation concern and efforts should be made to support these populations.

Permission Type

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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Survey of the critically endangered Rusty Patched Bumble bee (Bombus affinis) at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, (USDA-FS) Ill.

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Recent declines in Bumble bee (Bombus spp.) populations and range(s) are attributed to habitat loss, pesticides and invasive pathogens. Four species have undergone notable declines in Illinois, with the rusty patched bumble bee (B. affinis), recently being listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Prairie restoration over the past 20 years at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (MNTP), a 20,000 acre preserve near Wilmington, IL, resulting in a florally rich prairie habitat. Despite known populations in surrounding counties, there had not been a comprehensive bumble bee study at MNTP. Our research objective was to determine presence and abundance of B. affinis and other Bombus species of conservation concern at MNTP. We hypothesized that B. affinis would be located at Midewin due to confirmed sightings in neighboring counties but that the occurrence of B. affinis would be low. In this study we recorded the presence of all bumble bee species in MNTP across 12 transects from June-August 2018, by sweep netting. Nearly 800 bumble bees, representing a total of 9 species were recorded during this survey. B. affinis was observed only once in these transect surveys, the first known record in Will county, comprising just 0.13% of all bumble bees captured. Three other bumble bee species of conservation concern, B. vagans, B. pensylvanicus and B. fervidus were also found, representing 10% of all captured bumble bees. The results of this study show that MNTP currently supports bumble bee species of conservation concern and efforts should be made to support these populations.