What
people are saying about Befriending Bumble Bees
"Your
book Befriending Bumble Bees is fantastic. .... providing a practical
guide for the enjoyment and preservation of
Minnesota's native species."
"It
is a very clear and well turned book and I want to congratulate the authors.
Unfortunately nobody in France and other countries has tried to publish
such a guide on bumble bees. Though species are different in North America
and Europe, I will recommend your book because you have described common
management rules."
What: Multi-year sampling of bumble bee population . Minnesota is home to twenty-four bumble bee species. The survey will help document the ranges and abundances of our bumble bees.
Why: Several bumble bee species appear to be in decline. Bombus affinis and Bombus terricola are rarely seen in Minnesota. Visit www.xerces.org/bumblebees for more information. Bombus fervidus and Bombus pensylvanicus also seem to be in decline. Multi-year surveys are needed to establish current population statuses and gague variability between years. Plus, chasing bees through fields of flowers is a great way to spend a summer day.
How:
There are two surveys. Twin Cities Bumble Bee Surveys focus on parks where bee surveys took place in the mid to late 1990s. Nyone can join experts to capture bumble bees while the bees are foraging at flower. Experts identify, count, mark, and release th ebees. Sites are surveyed during early, mid and late summer.
Minnesota Bumble Bee Atlas surveys take place state wide. Volunteers train and adopt grids across the state to independently survey.
Minnesota
Where: Twin Cities surveys usually take place in the Peace Garden in Lyndale Park, the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden in Theoore Wirth Park, Crow Hassas Park Reserve, Kroenig Interpretive Center, Elm Creek Park, and Como Lake.
Outstate? Join the Minnesota Bumble Bee Atlassurveys. Visit here for more details.
Who:
The survey is organized by Elaine Evans. Elaine has an Ph.D. in Entomology from the U of MN and is co-author of the book, Befriending Bumble Bees. Elaine worked for the Xerces Society on their bumble bee conservation program and is currently working on a PhD at the U of MN. The survey is organized independently, springing from desire to conserve native bee populations.
What can you do to help?
Volunteers are needed to participate in summer surveys and process materials collected from previous surveys.
If you can't join us on our surveys, you can still help monitor bumble bees by joining Bumble Bee Watch.
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