Rusty Patched Bumble Bee
(Bombus affinis)
📷 by Terry Miesle of Rusty Patched Bumble Bee on Anise Hyssop in his Illinois garden.
The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee is an endangered species native to the Midwestern and Eastern U.S. and Canada. Its population has declined more than 87% in the past 20 years, likely due to habitat loss, pesticide use, pathogens, and climate change.
In recent years, Rusty Patched Bumble Bees have been spotted nearby in Rogers Park, Wilmette, and Glenview. We have a hunch they may also be in Evanston, though there haven't been confirmed sighting yet.
Keep your eyes peeled and share any potential sightings on iNaturalist! Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about upcoming workshops and bioblitzes.
By planting native host plants without pesticides or chemicals, you can provide pollen and nectar for Rusty Patched Bumble Bees and other important pollinators. Choose plants that bloom throughout the season to support bees across their life cycles.
Identification tips: color patterns
🎨 by Xerces Society
The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee can be identified by these
color patterns:
• A thumbtack-shaped black mark on the thorax
• A black line connecting the thumbtack-shaped mark to the side
• A rust-colored patch on the abdomen, surrounded by yellow
• Queens (left) are larger with a black oval-shape on the thorax, but no rust-colored patch
color patterns:
• A thumbtack-shaped black mark on the thorax
• A black line connecting the thumbtack-shaped mark to the side
• A rust-colored patch on the abdomen, surrounded by yellow
• Queens (left) are larger with a black oval-shape on the thorax, but no rust-colored patch
