A Citizen Science Bumblebee Project at Quincy Bog

See Judith Saum's other  article describing The Beecology Project and her work with it.

As a Beecologist, I find it gratifying to be part of an investigation (led by UMass biology professor and researcher Dr. Robert Gegear) that is contributing valuable information about the diversity and health of plant-pollination systems.  In addition to my own backyard, I also routinely survey the Quincy Bog Natural Area for bees and other pollinators. Last summer I was pleased to find the half-black bumblebee (Bombus vagans) foraging on pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) starting in late July and then on jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) until the beginning of September.

Yet, looking back, the relative number of these bumblebees in both my yard and at the Bog did not come close to what the 2018 UNH study documented in times past when B. vagans made up more than a third of all bumblebees around the state. That report described the substantial decline of B. vagans and suggested it be considered for conservation status.

I also was thrilled to discover one of the threatened, yellow-banded bumblebees, Bombus terricola, collecting nectar on buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) near the Quincy Bog Nature Center. I found several  more of these beauties feeding on goldenrod at the Jim Darling Nature Area. Given that the 2018 UNH study recommended that B. terricola be listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need due to its severe decline and ecological role as the sole pollinator of several rare plants, this was a notable finding.

For further comparison, I completed regular surveys in a large field not far from the Quincy Bog Nature Center. I found lots of the more prevalent bumblebees, including B. impatiens, as well as honeybees, dominating that disturbed habitat of mostly non-native red clover. Dr. Robert Gegear notes that while honeybees are immensely important to agriculture, they have minimal ecological value, unlike bumblebees. In fact, he completed a study showing that honeybees can deter and drive native bees out when floral resources are limited. For that reason, Dr. Gegear recommends that beehives not be set up near conservation lands.

I also found a few B. vagans feeding in one small corner of that field in mid-July. But by the end of the month, they had abandoned the red clover, and I started seeing them on the pickerelweed that began blooming at the Bog. Yet this observation made me question whether non-native flowers like red clover are equally important to bumblebee survival when the native flowers they prefer are missing. I turned to Dr. Gegear for the answer and he admitted that red clover, cow vetch and comfrey have prevented a couple of bumblebee species from going locally extinct in Massachusetts.

He went on to explain that if it were simply a matter of “saving the bees,” we could easily do that by presenting them with all kinds of horticultural flowers that are known to lure bumblebees. But the big problem with these non-natives is that they do not support other kinds of wildlife in terms of providing food, shelter, and nesting sites. Therefore, the pollinator loses its functional role in supporting species diversity and conservation. Gegear’s remarks indicate that there are important choices to be made when it comes to helping bumblebees. Dedicating and managing lands like the Quincy Bog Natural Area to conserve critical habitat for an abundance of species including at-risk bees is key. Yet it could be helpful to extend that same conservation mindset to backyard landscapes. Integrating a few native plants favored by threatened bumblebees into a garden or landscape could make a difference. Such a decision goes beyond just saving a few kinds of bees. It may also contribute to keeping ecosystems resilient and buzzing for years to come.

ADDENDUM: A recent discovery in June was a rare wild bee at the Quincy Bog. It is a specialist that only feeds on sheep laurel blossoms. This bee has been identified only about a dozen times in the U.S., including in New Hampshire. Big thanks to pollinator ecologist Molly Jacobson who encouraged me to look for it.

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Twelve Worthy Native Plants for Imperiled Bumblebees in NH

A good place to start is with a willow or wild rose. The willow, in particular, is an early pollen and nectar source for bumblebees and many other native bees.
Most of the flowers listed are “garden-worthy.” Avoid cultivars which studies show aren’t as beneficial to bees. Also, to attract bumblebees, a grouping of at least 5-7 of one kind of flower is best.
Two reputable native plant suppliers in NH who stock these flowers and more are Bagley Pond Perennials and Found Well Farm. Seed can also be purchased from the Wild Seed Project in Maine.
*This list was taken from Dr. Robert Gegear’s (UMASS Dartmouth) more extensive “Recommended Native Plant List for MA” and would likely be most applicable to the southern half of New Hampshire:
https://gegearlab.weebly.com/plant-list.html