Bumble Bee Nest Survey
Join the research! This survey is being mailed out nationwide!
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Yellow-Faced bumble Bee (B. vosnesenskii) found in California. |
You can help!
By filling out this short survey when you find a bumble bee nest, you’ll be contributing to important research on bumble bees. Every detail brings us closer to understanding and conserving these important pollinators!
The goal for this survey is to compile nest site and habitat features for bumble bees throughout North America and make this information available to anyone at no cost. Survey results and a narrative report will be available for viewing after each survey season is over (usually in Nov/Dec).
What to look for:
You'll know you've found a nest if you see bumble bees flying into and out of the same hole repeatedly. You will likely not be able to see the nest, as it will probably be concealed by something like leaves or grass, but if you listen at the entrance you'll hear buzzing from inside.
Workers normally ignore people, but if you disturb the nest or block the entrance for too long you've got a good chance of getting stung. You don't need to see the nest itself to fill out the survey, but please be as descriptive of the location as possible.
About the researcher:
Athena Anderson earned her B.A. in biology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 2002, and her M.S. from Appalachian State University in 2004. She is a self-described naturalist and has conducted research on amphibians, birds, and scorpions. She is now pursuing a doctoral degree in ecology at the University of Georgia, studying bumble bee behavior, seasonal activity patterns, and nesting habits.
Questions?
Contact Athena with questions at nestsurvey@yahoo.com
Resources:
www.bumblebee.org All about Bumble Bees, maintained by L. Smith, graduate from Aberdeen University. Information on tongues, hairs, combs, brushes, and other interesting bits of the bee body.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumblebee Wikipedia description of the biology, nests, colony, myths and more about Bumble Bees.
BEE-L: Bee Biology Discussion List
BEE-L is for the discussion of research and information concerning the biology of bees. This includes honey bees and other bees (and maybe even wasps). We communicate about sociobiology, behavior, ecology, adaptation, evolution, genetics, taxonomy, physiology, pollination, and flower nectar and pollen production of bees. To subscribe, write "subscribe bee-l Your Name" in the body of the message and email to: listserv@uacsc2.albany.edu (look for a confirmation email in which you have to reconfirm)
Fun Facts:
- Bumble Bees are part of the insect tribe Bombini
- They average about 0.6 – 1 inches in length
- The fuzzy, soft hair covering their bodies is called pile
- They maintain a nest temperature of about 86 degrees through body heat
- Bumble Bee nests are used only one year and then abandoned
- They are important pollinators as they have very long tongues
- Bumble Bees never swarm
Safety:
Bumble bees are much less aggressive than honey bees. Generally they will not attack a human at all, unless their life is under threat. Don't wave your arms wildly in their presence, stand quietly and once they smell you are not a flower with pollen they will move gently away.
Bumble bees do not lose their sting and die if they use it, as a honey bee will. And people who have allergies to other bees and wasps will also be allergic to Bumble Bees.
Fill-out the online survey! Click here - it will open in a new window.
Thanks again for your support of bumble bee research!