If you are passionate about conserving these beneficial insects, you can get involved with groups such as Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and Bumble Bee Watch. You can help on your own property by planting native flowers rich in pollen and nectar and by supporting organic gardening practices (Williams et al. 2014.)
The Northern Amber Bumble Bee has populations in northern, eastern, central, and western NY that have remained relatively stable over time, but remains absent from southern NY (White et al. 2022). This sub-genus (Subterraneobombus) does not appear to have experienced high susceptibility to the protozoan N. bombi, a pathogen attributed to playing a large role in the decline of Bombus and Thoracobombus sub-genera. However, the species remains threatened by habitat loss, pesticides, and urbanization (Schweitzer et al. 2012) as well as pollution and invasive species.
The short-term trends for this species are unknown.
Based on data from the Empire State Native Pollinator Survey, the current (2000 to present) and historical (1999 and earlier) distribution in NY has remained relatively stable. While there appear to be three counties no longer occupied that were historically, there are also several new county records in recent years (White et al. 2022).
Threats to Bombus borealis include habitat loss, pesticides, and urbanization (Schweitzer et al. 2012) as well as pollution and invasive species. This sub-genus (Subterraneobombus) does not appear to have experienced high susceptibility to the protozoan N. bombi, a pathogen attributed to playing a large role in the decline of Bombus and Thoracobombus sub-genera.
Any efforts to protect wild bumble bee populations from pathogen exposure would benefit Northern Amber Bumble Bees. Suggested actions would include using mesh to prevent escape of bees from commercial breeding greenhouses, proper disposal of commercial bees, sanitation in greenhouses, and development of molecular screening. Tight restrictions on importing bumble bees and elimination of parasites from commercial populations has been suggested as ideal (Meeus et al. 2011, Schweitzer et al. 2012).
Minimal to no exposure of Northern Amber Bumble Bees to insecticides would also benefit them. Suggested actions include avoidance of application to flowers that bumble bees are attracted to and application of solutions or soluble powders (rather than dusts or wettable powders) to the ground in calm wind and warmer temperatures during periods of dewless nights to minimize the impact to resident bumble bee populations (Schweitzer et al. 2012). Organic farming has also been suggested to benefit bumble bees.
Further research is needed to determine more information on habitat requirements, threats, climate change effects, and insecticide effects for Northern Amber Bumble Bees.
Bumble bees are generalist foragers and need nesting habitat in the spring, flowers for adult and larval nutrition throughout the spring and summer, and sites for queens to overwinter. This bumble bee nests underground (Colla et al. 2011), often using abandoned rodent nests underground in south facing exposures. Foraging habitat should include flower abundance and species richness with overlapping blooms to ensure nectar availability throughout the growing season (Schweitzer et al. 2012). Select food plants for B. borealis include vetches, thistles, asters, Prunella, Eupatorium, and Symphytum officinale (Colla et al. 2011). Suitable sites for bumble bees to overwinter may include rotting logs, mulch, or loose soil (Schweitzer et al. 2012).
The Northern Amber Bumble Bee has confirmed populations in northern, eastern, central, and western NY. Except for historical records from Rockland County, it appears to be absent from the southern portion of the state (White et al. 2022).
The Northern Amber Bumble Bee range includes the Canadian maritimes west to Alberta and in the northeastern U.S. from Maine west to Idaho and some southern states including Georgia (NatureServe 2023).
Northern Amber Bumble Bee queens and workers have a yellow face and yellow hair on the thorax, except for the lower sides, which are black, and a black band between the wing bases. Abdominal segments one through four are yellow and segment five can be black or yellow. Males have similar coloration to females, with black hair on the last three abdominal segments, present in varying degrees (Colla et al. 2011).
Bumble bee queens hibernate over the winter, emerge in the spring, locate a nest site, and rear young (workers, males, and new queens). After new queens and males mate, all males, workers, and old queens die by the beginning of winter and new queens settle into sites to overwinter (Schweitzer et al. 2012).
The time of year you would expect to find Northern Amber Bumble Bee active and reproducing in New York.
Northern Amber Bumble Bee
Bombus borealis Kirby, 1837
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This guide was authored by: Erin L. White
Information for this guide was last updated on: September 19, 2023
Please cite this page as:
New York Natural Heritage Program. 2023.
Online Conservation Guide for
Bombus borealis.
Available from: https://guides.nynhp.org/northern-amber-bumble-bee/.
Accessed December 8, 2023.