Wyoming’s most important pollinators are declining

It’s reported bumblebees are some of the most recognizable of the 3,600 native bee species found in the U.S. 

These pollinators aren’t just cute and fuzzy, they are also important for wild flowering plants and agricultural crops, including many rangeland forbs, according to Mountain States Bumble Bee Atlas Coordinator and Endangered Species Conservation Specialist Amy Dolan.

Dolan notes there are almost 50 species of bumblebees in North America and nearly one-half of them have been documented in Wyoming. 

Unfortunately, many species of bumblebees have experienced rapid and dramatic declines over the past several decades. 

“Five species in Wyoming are classified as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature,” she states.

The threats bumblebees face include habitat loss, pathogens, pesticide use, climate change and competition from commercial bees.

Bee benefits and habitat

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, 75 percent of the world’s flowering plants depend on animal pollinators such as honeybees and bumblebees to reproduce.

Pollination occurs as bees move pollen within or between flowers while foraging, and this action, seemingly secondary to the forager’s mission, is vital to the survival of plants, animals and humans.

Dolan says, “Providing a diversity of flowers from early spring to late fall is a great way to ensure the colony has the pollen and nectar it needs throughout its entire life cycle.”

Bumblebees need a safe place to overwinter and build their nests, and they like to nest in pre-existing cavities which provide insulation and protection from the elements, such as old rodent burrows, bunch grasses or even man-made structures like birdhouses or the cotton batting of old furniture. 

“Queen bumblebees emerging from the nest in late summer hibernate through the winter in leaf litter, soil or compost,” Dolan continues. “Individuals can provide habitat for nests and hibernation by leaving some leaf litter, brush piles or compost on undisturbed land.” 

Bee research

While providing habitat for bumblebees is a great start, individuals also need to learn more about bee populations in order to conserve them. 

In the past 15 years, research from around the world has documented significant declines in populations of several bee species. 

In the U.S., honeybees and the native Western bumblebee have experienced well-documented declines, but population trend data for the vast majority of bee species is lacking.

Dolan states, “The Xerces Society and the Bureau of Land Management have launched the Mountain States Bumble Bee Atlas to help learn more about these animals in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Nevada.” 

The atlas is a community science project, and volunteers are asked to choose an area within the four-state region to conduct surveys to catch, photograph and release bumblebees and document the habitat and flowers they are using. 

“Xerces staff offer in-person and online training events, as well as a variety of print and online resources to give volunteers the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to run surveys independently,” she mentions. “In the first year of the project, nearly 80 trained volunteers conducted around 150 surveys and submitted over 700 bumblebee observations. Next year an even bigger effort is needed so we will continue to recruit, train and encourage atlas volunteers to participate.”

Here in Wyoming, the annual BioBlitz event is one way to help document bee sightings. People can also contribute to baseline data on insect pollinators all season long, from anywhere in the state via the iNaturalist mobile app.

Pesky problems for bees

According to a University of Wyoming (UW) Ag News article written by Brooke Ortel, scientists have identified habitat loss, climate change, disease, parasites and pesticide use as factors contributing to bee decline.

Ortel notes products like neonicotinoids – insecticides made of synthetic nicotine – can harm bee populations, especially if application is ill timed or label specifications are not followed.

“Neonicotinoids are systemic, so the product is taken up by the roots, translocated by the plant, and the plant is protected from chewing or sucking insects,” explains Jeff Edwards, UW Extension pesticide safety education program coordinator. “Normally these products shouldn’t affect bees, but if the plant happens to have that product in it and then blooms, there’s studies showing these insecticides are in pollen and could impact them.”

The article continues, in particular, some studies have found frequent exposure to this kind of product can impact honeybee behavior. They might get lost and not be able to find their way back to their hive, for instance.

“For those who choose to use pesticides, the key is to read the label and apply them responsibly. There are so many types of bees and so many types of insecticides it would be really hard to say, ‘Don’t use this product because it kills bees,’” says Edwards.

Wyoming Bee College

The Wyoming Bee College, a two-day educational opportunity, will be held Sept. 13-14 at Casper College for beekeepers of all levels, gardeners, naturalists, educators, kids and anyone interested in bees – whether native or honey producing – and the honey product business. 

Courses and training sessions will cover beekeeping skills, honeybee behavior, specialty hive products and native and honeybee research updates, all from a practical perspective.

The event will include vendors to help new beekeepers find the resources they need to start a new endeavor and for existing beekeepers to stock up on supplies needed for their apiaries. 

Kids between seven and 15 who are working with an adult beekeeper or 4-H leader learning the craft of beekeeping get free admission with a paying adult.

Support Wyoming bees

For more information on Wyoming pollinators and how to help, visit bit.ly/wyo-pollinators to download the UW Extension publication “Promoting Pollinators on Your Place: A Wyoming Guide.” 

For advice on creating a thriving pollinator habitat, check out UW Extension Educator Amy Smith’s article “Consider Creating a Pollinator Habitat” at bit.ly/create-pollinator-habitat.

Those who would like to learn more about the Mountain States Bumble Bee Atlas or discuss the possibility of an in-person training in an area, visit the website at bumblebeeatlas.org or contact mtnstatesbba@xerces.org.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.