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 populations in targeted parks in Minnesota. Minnesota is home to eighteen 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:
Surveys are currently focused on parks where bee surveys took place in the mid to late 1990s. Bumble bees are captured while foraging at flowers, identified, counted, marked and released. Sites are surveyed during early, mid and late summer.
Where: Currently surveys are planned for 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 Bee Atlas Bumble Bee surveys. Visit here for more details.
Who:
The survey is organized by Elaine Evans. Elaine has an M.S. 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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