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Bombus (Cullumanobombus) griseocollis (De Geer, 1773) Counties:Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Saint Louis, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine., Published as part of Portman, Zachary M., Gardner, Joel, Lane, Ian G., Gerjets, Nicole, Petersen, Jessica D., Ascher, John S., Arduser, Mike, Evans, Elaine C., Boyd, Crystal, Thomson, Robin & Cariveau, Daniel P., 2023, A checklist of the bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of Minnesota, pp. 1-95 in Zootaxa 5304 (1) on page 29, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5304.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8048569

Understanding habitat quality is central to understanding the distributions of species on the landscape, as well as to conserving and restoring at-risk species. Although it is well-known that many species require different resources throughout their life cycles, pollinator conservation efforts focus almost exclusively on forage resources.Here, we evaluate nesting habitat for bumble bees by locating nests directly on the landscape. We compared colony density and colony reproductive output for Bombus impatiens, the common eastern bumble bee, across three different land cover types (hay fields, meadows, and forests). We also recorded nest site characteristics, e.g., the position of each nest site, for all Bombus nests located during surveys to tease apart species-specific patterns of habitat use.We found that B. impatiens nests exclusively underground in two natural land cover types, forests and meadows, but not in hay fields. B. impatiens nested at similar densities in both in meadows and forests, but colonies in forests had much higher reproductive output.In contrast to B. impatiens, B. griseocollis frequently nested on the surface of the ground and was almost always found in meadows. B. bimaculatis nests were primarily below ground in meadows. B. perplexis nested below ground in all three habitat types, including hay fields.For some bumble bee species in this system, e.g., B. griseocollis and B. bimaculatis, meadows, the habitat type with abundant forage resources, may be sufficient to maintain them throughout their life cycles. However, B. impatiens might benefit from heterogeneous landscapes with forests and meadows. Further research would be needed to evaluate whether hay fields are high-quality nesting sites for the one species that used them, B. perplexis.Synthesis and applications. In the past, Bombus nesting studies have been perceived as prohibitively labor-intensive. This example shows that it is possible to directly measure nesting habitat use and quality for bumble bee species. Applying these methods to more areas, especially areas where at-risk Bombus spp. are abundant, is an important next step for identifying bumble bee habitat needs throughout their life cycles.

Populations of wild and managed pollinators are declining in North America, and causes include increases in disease pressure and decreases in flowering resources. Tallgrass prairies can provide floral resources for managed honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Apis mellifera Linnaeus) and wild bees. Honey bees kept near prairies may compete with wild bees for floral resources, and potentially transfer viral pathogens to wild bees. Measurements of these potential interactions are lacking, especially in the context of native habitat conservation. To address this, we assessed abundance and richness of wild bees in prairies with and without honey bee hives present, and the potential spillover of several honey bee viruses to bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Bombus Latrielle). We found no indication that the presence of honey bee hives over 2 yr had a negative effect on population size of wild bee taxa, though a potential longer-term effect remains unknown. All levels of viruses quantified in bumble bees were lower than those observed in honey bees. Higher levels of deformed wing virus and Israeli acute paralysis virus were found in Bombus griseocollis DeGeer (Hymenoptera: Apidae) collected at sites with hives than those without hives. These data suggest that the presence of honey bees in tallgrass prairie could increase wild bee exposure to viruses. Additional studies on cross-species transmission of viruses are needed to inform decisions regarding the cohabitation of managed bees within habitat utilized by wild bees.

While morphological differences such as tongue length are often featured as drivers of pollinator floral preferences, differences in chemical detection and tolerance to secondary compounds may also play a role. We sought to better understand the role of secondary compounds in floral preference by examining visitation of milkweed flowers, which can contain toxic cardenolides in their nectar, by bumble bees (Bombus spp.), some of their most abundant and important pollinators. We examine bumble bee species visitation of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) compared to other flowers in the field and test whether observed preferences may be influenced by avoidance and tolerance of cardenolides, as measured by the cardenolide ouabain, in the lab. We reveal that common milkweed is visited predominantly by one bumble bee species, Bombus griseocollis, in a ratio much higher than the abundance of this species in the community. We confirmed the presence and toxicity of cardenolides in A. syriaca nectar. Lab experiments revealed that B. griseocollis, compared to the common bumble bees B. impatiens and B. bimaculatus, exhibit greater avoidance of cardenolides, but only at levels that start to induce illness, whereas the other species exhibit either no or reduced avoidance of cardenolides, resulting in illness and mortality in these bees. Toxicity experiments reveal that B. griseocollis also has a substantially higher tolerance for cardenolides than B. impatiens. Together, these results support a potential evolutionary association between B. griseocollis and milkweed that may involve increased ability to both detect and tolerate milkweed cardenolides.

This paper describes and illustrates the egg, fifth, first, and fourth larval instars, as well as the female pupa of Bombus (Cullumanobombus) griseocollis (DeGeer), all collected from a single nest in June 2017 in Wisconsin. In so doing, attempts are made to understand the biological significance of the anatomical and behavioral features of these various life stages.

Managed honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) and wild bees provide critical ecological services that shape and sustain natural, agricultural, and urban landscapes. In recent years, declines in bee populations have highlighted the importance of the pollination services they provide and the need for more research into the reasons for global bee losses. Several stressors cause declining populations of managed and wild bee species such as habitat degradation, pesticide exposure, and pathogens. Viruses, which have been implicated as a key stressor, are able to infect a wide range of species and can be transmitted both intra- and inter-specifically from infected bee species to uninfected bee species via vertical (from parent to offspring) and/or horizontal (between individuals via direct or indirect contact) transmission. To explore how viruses spread both intra- and inter-specifically within a community, we examined the impact of management, landscape type, and bee species on the transmission of four common viruses in Nebraska: Deformed wing virus (DWV), Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV), and Sacbrood virus (SBV). Results indicated the prevalence of viruses is significantly affected (P < 0.005) by bee species, virus type, and season, but not by landscape or year (P = 0.290 and 0.065 respectively). The higher prevalence of DWV detected across bee species (10.4% on Apis mellifera, 5.3% on Bombus impatiens, 6.1% on Bombus griseocollis, and 22.44% on Halictus ligatus) and seasons (10.8% in early-mid summer and 11.4% in late summer) may indicate a higher risk of interspecific transmission of DWV. However, IAPV was predominately detected in Halictus ligatus (20.7%) and in late season collections (28.1%), which may suggest species-specific susceptibility and seasonal trends in infection rates associated with different virus types. However, there were limited detections of SBV and BQCV in bees collected during both sampling periods, indicating SBV and BQCV may be less prevalent among bee communities in this area.

Mermithid nematodes (Nematoda: Mermithida: Mermithidae) parasitize a wide range of both terrestrial and aquatic invertebrate hosts, yet are recorded in bumble bees (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae:Bombus) only six times historically. Little is known about the specific identity of these parasites. In a single-season nationwide survey of internal parasites of 3646 bumble bees, we encountered six additional instances of mermithid parasitism in four bumble bee species and genetically characterized them using two regions of 18S to identify the specific host–parasite relationships. Three samples from the northeastern USA are morphologically and genetically identified asMermis nigrescens, whereas three specimens collected from a single agricultural locality in the southeast USA fell into a clade with currently undescribed species. Nucleotide sequences of the V2–V6 region of 18S from the southeastern specimens were 2.6–3.0% divergent from one another, and 2.2–4.0% dissimilar to the nearest matches to available data. The dearth of available data prohibits positive identification of this parasite and its affinity for specific bumble bee hosts. By doubling the records of mermithid parasitism of bumble bee hosts and providing genetic data, this work will inform future investigations of this rare phenomenon.

Endoparasitoids develop inside the body of a host organism and, if successful, eventually kill their host in order to reach maturity. Host species can vary in their suitability for a developing endoparasitoid; in particular, the host immune response, which can suppress egg hatching and larval development, has been hypothesized to be one of the most important determinants of parasitoid host range. In this study, we investigated whether three bumblebee host species (Bombus bimaculatus, Bombus griseocollis, and Bombus impatiens) varied in their suitability for the development of a shared parasitoid, the conopid fly (Conopidae, Diptera) and whether the intensity of host encapsulation response, an insect immune defense against invaders, could predict parasitoid success. When surgically implanted with a nylon filament, B. griseocollis exhibited a stronger immune response than both B. impatiens and B. bimaculatus. Similarly, B. griseocollis was more likely to melanize conopid larvae from natural infections and more likely to kill conopids prior to its own death. Our results indicate that variation in the strength of the general immune response of insects may have ecological implications for sympatric species that share parasites. We suggest that, in this system, selection for a stronger immune response may be heightened by the pattern of phenological overlap between local host species and the population peak of their most prominent parasitoid.

Bombus (Cullumanobombus) griseocollis (DeGeer 1773) (griseocollis group) County records: Alcona, Allegan, Alpena, Arenac, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Iosco, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Mackinac, Macomb, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Monroe, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Ottawa, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne, Wexford. Notes. Nests are made at the surface (Plath 1927)., Published as part of Gibbs, Jason, Ascher, John S., Rightmyer, Molly G. & Isaacs, Rufus, 2017, The bees of Michigan (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), with notes on distribution, taxonomy, pollination, and natural history, pp. 1-160 in Zootaxa 4352 (1) on page 41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4352.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1063854, {"references":["Plath, O. E. (1927) Notes on the nesting habits of some of the less common New England bumblebees. Psyche, 34, 122 - 128. https: // doi. org / 10.1155 / 1927 / 43469"]}

The primitively eusocial bee, Bombus (Fraternobombus) griseocollis, possesses a complex temporal division of labor based on shifting patterns of principal tasks rather than on discrete age castes. Workers within a given age range perform ensembles of tasks which change quantitatively as the workers age. Functional classes of behavior, such as nursing or guarding, are not limited to a given age class of workers; all tasks are performed by workers of all ages. Colony ontogeny also influences worker behavioral ontogeny; significant differences in task performance exist among workers born in different phases of colony development. As the colony aged, young bees foraged with increasing probability. In the absence of foraging mortality, foragers shifted to nursing tasks, and were replaced by younger bees.

Bombus griseocollis (DeGreer) was found to be the most common visitor to flowers of Lycopersicon peruvianum at Fort Collins (Larimer County) Colorado. Five other species of Bombus were less frequently observed on the flowers along with an occasional Apis mellifera L. No pollinating insects were observed visiting blossoms of L. esculentum during the entire flowering period. An efficient system to attract insect pollinators is apparently present in L. peruvianum but not in L. esculentum. We suggest that this system be transferred to L. esculentum genetically to make possible the production of inexpensive F1 hybrid tomato seed. A strategy for accomplishing this transfer is presented. Zusammenfassung Beobachtungen uber Insekten als Bestauber bei Lycopersicon peruvianum und L. esculentum in Beziehung zur Produktion von F1-Hybridentomatensamen Die Hummel, Bombus griseocollis (DeGreer) erwies sich als haufigste Besucherin der Bluten von L. peruvianum im Gebiet von Fort Collins (Larimer County) in Colorado. 5 andere Bombus-Arten zeigten geringere Frequenz, ebenso die Honigbiene, Apis mellifera L. Dagegen wurden wahrend der ganzen Blutezeit bei L. esculentum keine bestaubenden Insekten in den Bluten beobachtet. Augenscheinlich ist nur bei L. peruvianum, nicht aber bei L. esculentum ein wirksames Anlocksystem fur Bestauber entwickelt. Es wird angenommen, das dieses System von L. esculentum genetisch ubertragen wird, um die Produktion von F1-Habridentomatensamen zu ermoglichen. Eine Strategic zur Gewahrleistung dieser Ubertragung wird erortert. Resume A Fort Collins, en Colorado (conte Larimer), Bombus griseocollis (DeGreer) etait le plus commune visiteur aux fleurs de Lycopersicon peruvianum. On a note aussi la presence de cinq autres especes de Bombus et de temps en temp un Apis mellifera L. Dans tout le temps que L. esculentum etait en fleur n'acun visitation d'insect filieur a ete observe. Apparenment une competent systeme por attirer insectes filieurs est presente en L. peruvianum et absent de L. esculentum. Nous propose un transmettre genetique de cette systeme aux L. esculentum pour proudire un F1 hybride de tomate pepin. Un strategic pour faire cette transferer est propose.

The behaviour of males of the bumblebees Bombus nevadensis nevadensis, B. griseocollis, and B. rufocinctus was examined at sites in Colorado and Montana, U.S.A. Males of all three species defended individual mating territories on which they scent marked plants with cephalic chemicals, which we hypothesize to be sex pheromones. Males aggressively excluded conspecific males from the vicinity of scent-marked plants for several hours each day. At times on certain B. griseocollis territories, the great number of intruding males resulted in a near breakdown of the territorial system, with repeated aggressive interactions and turnover. In preliminary chemical analyses, dichloromethane extracts of heads of B. nevadensis and B. griseocollis were each dominated by single components, while those of B. rufocinctus, in each population studied, had three major components. Extracts of plant parts scent marked by males reveal the presence of the cephalic chemicals not present on unmarked control plants. Mating is initiated on or near territories. The behavioural and morphological correlates of male mating systems in the genus Bombus and other aculeate Hymenoptera are discussed.

The labial gland secretions from males of the bumblebee Bombus (Separatobombus) griseocollis De Geer, a bumblebee exhibiting perching behaviour, were analysed by gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the electron impact and positive ion chemical ionization mode. The major compound of the complex mixture of alkenols, acetates, hydrocarbons, wax type esters and steroids is tetradecyl acetate, considerable amounts of hexadecyl, geranyllinaloyl, geranylgeranyl, docosyl, tetracosenyl and hexacosenyl acetate were also found. 1,3-Tetradecanediol diacetate, detected as a minor component, has not yet been identified in male bumblebee labial gland secretions. Besides small amounts of primary alcohols (tetradecanol and hexadecanol) the tertiary alcohol geranyllinalool (3,7,11,15-tetramethyl- hexadeca-1,6,10,14-tetraene-3-ol) was also present. The primary alcohols were also present as esters of butanoic, dodecanoic, tetradecanoic, and hexadecanoic acid. Besides the usual mixture of un- and mono-unsaturated straight chain hydrocarbons, the labial gland contains the isoprenoid hydrocarbons β-springene [(6E,10E)-7,11,15-trimethyl-3-methylenehexadeca-1,6,10,14-tetraene] and two isomers of α-springene [(3Z,6E,10E)- and (3E,6E,10E)-3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-hexadeca-1,3,6,10,14-pentaene]. The close relationship in chemical composition in male bumblebees with perching and flight pass behaviour is discussed.

Male Bombus griseocollis (Hymenoptera: Apidae) share in the brood care of nestmates by incubating pupae (usually during the first few days after they emerge as adults). Male posture during incubation of a pupa is identical to that observed for females. Pupae incubated by males were 4°C-6°C above the temperature of unincubated pupae. Although this increase was not as great as that caused by workers or queens, it was an important factor in warming pupae. Incubating males may benefit nestmates incidentally without lowering their own individual fitness.

Workers of the bumblebee Bombus griseocollis were found to use honey-daubing as a method of defence against (mostly heterospecific) intruders. The distant taxonomic relatedness of this species to others that practise honey-daubing may imply that this defence has evolved independently at least twice in the genus Bombus.