Bombus affinis, the rusty patched bumble BEE (RPBB), was federally listed as endangered under the endangered species act in 2017

The species has experienced precipitous declines in both the extent of geographic range and in abundance since the early 2000S and is currently extirpated from most of its historic range. Potential impacts of a captive rearing and reintroduction program are numerous but methods for captive rearing are not fully developed. We propose a two-phase approach to develop techniques for EX situ rearing of RPBB. The first phase is to develop techniques using a closely related surrogate species, and the second phase entails refining techniques and implementation using RPBB. We will develop techniques using a surrogate bumble BEE species at the bumble BEE health and genetics lab, located in the rothenbuhler honey BEE research lab in the department of entomology at the ohio state university (OSU). A closely related species the yellow banded bumble BEE (ybbb, bombus terricola) will serve as a surrogate for phase 1. We will develop a screening procedure for common BEE disease causing agents vairimorpha bombi, crithidia bombi, and apicystis bombi for lab populations. Further we will use this species to develop diet for captive rearing, mating and wintering strategies for potential EX situ rearing of RPBB for population augmentation and remediation. We will work with USFWS personnel to develop an EX situ rearing strategy for RPBB and plan for reintroduction as well. For phase two, should funding be available and RPBB be permitted for captive rearing, we will gradually shift to using the target species in our rearing operations after finalizing our RE ategies and reintroduction plans.