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Commercialized bumble bees (Bombus) are primary pollinators of several crops within open field and greenhouse settings. However, the common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens Cresson, 1863) is the only species widely available for purchase in North America. As an eastern species, concerns have been expressed over their transportation outside of their native range. Therefore, there is a need to identify regionally appropriate candidates for commercial crop pollination services, especially in the western U.S.A. In this study, we evaluated the commercialization potential of brown-belted bumble bees (Bombus griseocollis De Geer, 1773), a broadly distributed species throughout the U.S.A. by assessing nest initiation and establishment rates of colonies produced from wild-caught gynes, creating a timeline of colony development, and identifying lab-reared workers' critical thermal maxima (CTMax) and lethal temperature (ecological death). From 2019 to 2021, 70.6% of the wild-caught B. griseocollis gynes produced brood in a laboratory setting. Of these successfully initiated nests, 74.8% successfully established a nest (produced a worker), providing guidance for future rearing efforts. Additionally, lab-reared workers produced from wild-caught B. griseocollis gynes had an average CTMax of 43.5°C and an average lethal temperature of 46.4°C, suggesting B. griseocollis can withstand temperatures well above those commonly found in open field and greenhouse settings. Overall, B. griseocollis should continue to be evaluated for commercial purposes throughout the U.S.A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bees provide an important ecosystem service by contributing to the pollination of crop and wild plant species. Multiple bee species, however, are in decline due to factors such as habitat loss and fragmentation, inadequate food availability, improper management practices, climate change, and pressures from pathogens and pests, including exotic species. Concerns about pollinator declines and implications for ecosystem services have led to efforts to create and restore pollinator habitat, refine pest management practices, improve detection of pests and exotic species that threaten native bees, and monitor populations to identify and protect vulnerable bee species and communities. A variety of methods are used to monitor bee populations, some of which use visual stimuli that mimic natural cues used to locate floral resources. Bees also find their way into traps that use both visual and olfactory cues to attract pest insects. On one hand, researchers work to improve pest monitoring tools to increase target captures and reduce bee bycatch. On the other, analysis of bee bycatch can help assess biodiversity, determine population fluctuations and range expansions or contractions, support monitoring efforts, and identify patterns and processes of broader ecological interest. These different fields of research should not be seen as conflicting goals, but rather an opportunity for greater complementarity and collaboration. This article reviews the biological and ecological bases for bee attraction to traps, summarizes recent trends in bycatch research, highlights future research priorities, and identifies opportunities for collaborative data sharing to maximize existing resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]