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The article discusses a study on the prevalence of trypanosomatid and Nosema bombi in spring bumble bee queens in Kansas. Topics covered include the surveys of bumble bee pathogens in the U.S., the importance of bumble bees as native pollinators in temperate regions, and the greater scrutiny warranted by the Kansas populations of Bombus pensylvanicus and B. auricomus.

The article discusses Xylocopa (X) virginica L. and X. micans Lepeletier, two species in the genus Xylocopa Latreille that are known to occur in the Eastern U.S. Two males of X. micans were netted on May 10, 2010 north of Biscoe in Prairie County, Arkansas. The range of X. virginica extends through much of the Eastern U.S. It has been noted that the role of X. micans as generalist pollinator with special abilities can be an important factor in plant communities.