HomeMy WebLinkAboutUniversity of MN Public InputTwin Cities Campus
February 20, 2024
To whom it may concern:
Department of Entomology 219 Hodson Hall
College of Food, Agricultural and 1980 Folvell AvenueSt. Paul, DM55108-6125
Natural Resource Sciences
612-624-3636
Fax: 612-625-5299
I am writing to express concern and provide information about negative impacts on the rusty
patched bumble bee (Bombits affinis), a federally endangered species, from the proposed Rachel
Development construction project at the former Mississippi Dunes property. I am an Associate
Extension Professor at the University of Minnesota and have been studying bumble bees for over
25 years. I have worked extensively on determining the status and habitat needs of the rusty
patched bumble bee since 2007.
The status assessment conducted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service states that "Bolnbus afjinis
has been observed and collected in a variety of habitats, including prairies, woodlands, marshes,
agricultural landscapes, and residential parks and gardens." The rusty patched bumble bee
actively uses these habitats for nesting and foraging from April to October. While it is true that
you will not find rusty patched bumble bees foraging on flowers between November and March,
this does not mean that they are not on the landscape (see the figure below). From late fall to
early spring, rusty patched bumble bee queens hibernate, either on the surface of the ground
under leaves, or a few inches below the soil surface. They are essentially defenseless at this time.
If the ground is disturbed, the cold temperatures make it difficult or impossible to fly to find
another overwintering site. Disturbance of the ground poses a direct risk. These queens are the
only link to the next generation of rusty patched bumble bees. New colonies are started each
spring by queens that have survived the winter. Just because you don't see the insects from
November to March doesn't mean they aren't completing their lifecycle during this critical time
point.
Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis) Annual Life Cycle in Central Minnesota
FLOWERVISITATION / POLLEN AND NECTAR COLLECTION
Woodland :.`."= Sunn Sites ;.
y
MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAIN FEB MAR APR
Annua) Nest Colony Duration
Woodland/Woodland Edge
HIBERNATION • New Queens (Gynes) Overvdntering In Ground In Woodland
Males
Nev Qoeens (Gynest
Workers �y
Queen
1 i
MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP ' OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR
Given that 1) the rusty patched bumble bee is currently threatened with extinction, 2) the
proposed Rachel Development construction project is within an area designated by the US Fish
and Wildlife Service as having a high potential of occurrence of the rusty patched bumble bee, 3)