Bumble Bee

Most bumble bee species prefer dry, dark cavities to nest in, such as abandoned rodent holes, bird boxes, and trees. They live in colonies that range between about 50 to 500 bees. Their wings beat 130 times per second, and males don't sting.

Several bumble bee species are rapidly declining across North America, South America, Europe and Asia. The Western bumble bee, Yellow Banded bumble bee, and the Franklin bumble bee have all vanished from large portions of their habitat. The Rusty-Patched bumble bee is now listed as endangered. Up to 1/3 of North America's 49 bumble bee species are declining.

"Bumble bees face many threats, including habitat loss, pesticides, introduced diseases, climate change and competition from honey bees." says Sarina Jepsen, endangered species program director for the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and deputy chair of the IUCN Bumble Bee Specialist Group.