Michigan Bumble Bee Atlas

The Michigan Bumble Bee Atlas (MBBA) is a statewide community science project developed by the Michigan Natural Features Inventory and Michigan State University Extension whose participants actively collect bumble bee occurrence and habitat data to inform bumble bee conservation across the state. The MBBA uses standardized bumble bee and habitat monitoring protocols developed by the  Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. 

Several of the photos used throughout this StoryMap were taken by MBBA volunteers, without whom this survey effort would not be possible. We would like to thank all MBBA volunteers for making this possible and for supporting bumble bee conservation.

Bumble bees will forage on a wide variety of plant species during the life of the colony. The variability in foraging plants used by different bumble bee species is, in part, due to differences in their tongue lengths. Some species have long tongues and prefer plants with longer corolla tubes, while others have short tongues and are found more commonly on open flowers, such as sunflowers and coneflowers.

A recent study from Michigan Natural Features Inventory found bumble bees foraging from over 135 species of flowers in Michigan between 2020 and 2022! The species that appear to be highly attractive to bumble bees include wild bergamot (also known as bee balm; Monarda fistulosa), purple coneflower (Echinaea purpurea), Shrubby St. John's wort (Hypericum prolificum), Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), and even the invasive species spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe).

Historically, approximately 20 unique bumble bee species could be found in Michigan. Recent statewide assessments, however, place the current number closer to 16. Six of these species are being tracked by Michigan Natural Features Inventory biologists due to decreasing population trends across the state.

Click on each photo below to learn more about our six tracked bumble bee species:

Potential causes of the bumble bee decline that we are seeing in Michigan include habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, pests, and pathogens.

Bumble bees are generalist foragers, which means that they need access to abundant and diverse floral resources. Managing the landscape to maximize season long availability of floral resources is necessary for colony health and reproduction. This can include protecting associated natural communities, planting wildflower plots, and incorporating prairie species into habitat management programs.

Bumble bees also have diverse nesting habitats, with some species preferring open areas and others nesting within or along forest edges. Nests found in Michigan may be particularly sensitive to ground management actions (e.g., disking, tilling, and herbicide applications).

The primary goal of the MBBA is to collect quantitative data on bumble bee species' distributions, floral preferences, and habitat associations in Michigan. The survey methodology was developed by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and is standardized across the state, meaning that consistent data will be collected across Michigan and several other states that have begun similar community science projects.

Click below to see the data sheets used in MBBA surveys:

Six in-person training workshops were held across the state in 2023 and 2024. These took place at the Springfield Township Library, John Ball Zoo, Mio Ranger Field Station, Warren Woods Field Station, and more. During these training sessions potential volunteers learned monitoring protocols, bumble bee photography tip and tricks, and practiced their bumble bee identification skills.

Scroll to see images from some of these in-person field trainings.

June 17th, 2023

June 10, 2024

July 6th, 2024

Several in-person field day training sessions will be held in spring and summer 2025. Updates regarding these can be found on the  MBBA webpage. 

Between March and October of 2024, 419 bumble bees were observed in 31 counties by 53 MBBA volunteers. Using the map below, click on Michigan's counties to explore counties that were surveyed in 2024 and the MBBA volunteers that surveyed them. Was your county surveyed in 2024?

Click the button below to complete the sign-up form if you are interested in participating in the Michigan Bumble Bee Atlas:

We encourage volunteers to adopt a priority grid cell to help meet the project's objectives, however it is not required to participate.

The darker (purple) grids are higher priority for surveys because surveys have either not been conducted there or very little survey effort has been done within that grid area. White and blue grids can still be surveyed or selected, but at least 3 surveys have been conducted within them already.

It is recommended that when choosing a grid cell, to choose one that can be visited at least two times per year.

Prior to surveying, volunteers should create a Bumble Bee Watch account. Click the button below to register:

In addition, prior to surveying, volunteers should review the materials available on the MNFI website. These include the participant handbook, a series of training videos, bumble bee identification reference guides, the bumble bee species explorer, and a bumble bee identification quiz to put your bumble bee knowledge to the test.

The Michigan Bumble Bee Explorer is a great source of information to increase your knowledge of our native bumble bee species, their ranges in Michigan, and their preferred floral resources. Click below to learn more about Michigan's bumble bee species:

Contact Logan Rowe (roweloga@msu.edu) or Nicolette Sexton (sextonn4@msu.edu) for program-related questions.

Funding for this work is provided from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Threatened and Endangered Species Template.