Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Floral Phenologies Wisconsin RPBBs Observed by Judy Cardin and Bob Plamann 2020-2022 Author: Judy Cardin 12/10/22 Making a Difference: Our Citizen Scientist Goals Bob and I live in Madison, Wisconsin. We hope to make a difference by restoring and maintaining our yard with good bumble bee habitat and fowers, sharing what we learn to help others make a difference, and participating in citizen science efforts to help threatened bumble bee species. Southern Wisconsin, one of the few strongholds of the endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, is the perfect place to learn by observing. We document our RPBB observations with the Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade, and participate in USGS RPBB research surveys, resulting in many thousands of bumble bee foral resources photos. I created this RPBB Floral and Morph Phenology report to share what we saw, and also how we are using the observations to support the RPBB. I hope it helps you!
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Overview I included three phenologies in this report. Here is a quick summary: 1. RPBB Morph Phenology 2020-2022 : Located at the top of the RPBB Floral Phenology chart on page 3. We documented 488 RPBBs, including 39 queens/gynes on fowers, 300 worker females, and 149 males. We saw the frst queen April 6, and the last gyne October 14. Peak population was second week of July through second week of August. 2. RPBB Floral Phenology Chart : page 4, shows by week what fowers RPBB used. We documented RPBBs using 43 species, including 28 native, and 15 cultivars or weeds. 3. RPBB Queen Photo Phenology : pages 5-7, photographic foral phenology series of RPBB queens we found on fowers April through October. Conclusions: Recommended RPBB Flowers We have a woodland backyard, and sunnier front yard. We planted fowers based on what species are most used or critical for RPBB: 1. RPBBs need foral resources from the frst week of April though mid October, so we try to provide fowers for the entire season in our yard. A city lot has limited space, even if you convert your lawn to fowers as we have. I recommend planting the listed fowers that we have planted or plan to plant this year. 2. Spring queens and fall gynes are crucial to RPBB survival, and they need fowers in early spring and late fall when few fowers are blooming. RP queens are diffcult to fnd, so observations are limited. • April Queens: We saw all April RPBB queens in our woodland backyard. Woodland fowers and trees are where the early spring queens feed, since there are very few other good fowers. We planted early April blooming Dutchman’s Breeches throughout our backyard. In addition to observing RP queens on them, they are peppered with nectar robbing holes, likely from the short tongued RPBB queens. Next spring we are planting April blooming Spring Beauties, gooseberries and currants, based on recently published bumble bee studies. • May Queens: We see RP queens on Virginia Bluebells and Virginia Waterleaf in our backyard. Last year we planted more Shooting Star and Wood Betony based on
Judy Cardin 12/10/22 2.
observations as both are heavily visited by queens from multiple species. We also hope to plant a native plum this year. • Fall Gynes: In September, native Field Thistle and Showy Goldenrod are critical gyne food sources. Obedient Plant and Turtlehead are also good fall food sources, and have lovely fowers. By October, New England Aster is the only food source we found for gynes. 3. These are the most used summer fowers, listed by bloom time: • Early June through mid August- Greater and shrubby St. John’s Wort. • Early July through August- Monarda Fistulosa. • Early July though mid August- Culver’s Root and Mountain Mint. This is peak population time for RPBBs, and we think Culver’s Root is their most used food source during peak July. In a prairie full of blooming fowers, this is the RPBB top choice. As Culver’s Root starts to wane, Mountain Mint and Monarda rise more in importance. • Mid July to September- Spotted Joe Pye Weed, Anise and Giant Hyssop.
Recommended RPBB fower list : ❖ Dutchman’s Breeches ❖ Spring Beauties ❖ Gooseberry ❖ Currant
❖ Culver’s Root ❖ Mountain Mint ❖ Spotted Joe Pye Weed ❖ Anise Hyssop ❖ Giant Hyssop ❖ Native Field Thistle ❖ Obedient Plant ❖ Turtlehead ❖ Showy Goldenrod ❖ New England Aster
❖ Virginia Bluebells ❖ Virginia Waterleaf
❖ Shooting Star ❖ Wood Betony ❖ American Plum - (small tree)
❖ St. John’s Wort** ❖ Native Monarda
** https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/Plants/1707 for St. John’s Wort (or any other plant) native to your area.
You can reach me at jlcrlp@charter.net . For more Wisconsin bumble bee information, visit the Facebook page Wisconsin Bumble Bee Observers, and the Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade website.
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Scilla cultivar
Bleeding Heart cultivar
Dutchman’s Breeches
Virginia Bluebells
Weeping Cherry cultivar
Plum cultivar
Periwinkle cultivar
Virginia Waterleaf
Shooting Star
RPBB Queen Photo Phenology continued on next page
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Sage cultivar
Anise Hyssop
Wood Betony
Giant Purple Hyssop
Monarda
Yellow Conefower
Pink Turtlehead
Spotted Joe Pye Weed
Native Field Thistle
RPBB Queen Photo Phenology continued on next page
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Obedient Plant
Showy Goldenrod
New England Aster
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