To expand the current extent of federally endangered rusty patched bumble BEE (bombus affinis) populations and locate new populations, bumble BEE surveys are performed in U.S. Fish and wildlife…

To expand the current extent of federally endangered rusty patched bumble BEE (bombus affinis) populations and locate new populations, bumble BEE surveys are performed in U.S. Fish and wildlife service region 3 and region 5. Surveys occur throughout the great lakes watershed in three national wildlife refuges in new york, ohio, and wisconsin (FOX river [WI], ottawa [OH], and montezuma [NY]), wetland management districts and state game areas in michigan, two counties (cook and lake) in illinois, and 13 counties (adams, allen, dekalb, elkhart, kosciusko, lake, lagrange, laporte, noble, porter, ST. Joseph, steuben, and wells or whitley) in indiana. Surveys generally follow USFWS survey protocols for the rusty patched bumble BEE (bombus affinis) version 2.2, rapid survey protocol to expedite sampling and cover as much area as possible and are expected to continue until 2025. Information regarding rusty patched bumble BEE, bumble BEE communities, and flower use is relatively lacking throughout much of the great lakes watershed. Detailed data associated with BEE species richness, abundance, and habitat use provide significant support for great lakes restoration initiative's and U.S. Fish & wildlife service's overall conservation goals in the watershed.