Searching for Bumblebees

Have you ever wondered where bumblebees spend their winters?

Every spring, just around this time, I think about this a lot - especially while watching and waiting for them to emerge from winter hibernation. And sometimes, I begin to worry, just a little.

What if something happened over winter?

What if there are no bumblebees this year?

Perhaps they didn't survive the winter?

Follow along and enjoy the read. And come back soon. Hopefully I will have some updates on the elusive bumblebee.

The bumblebee (Bombus) is native to Ontario along with over 400 other species of native bees, and like most of them, the bumblebee is a ground dweller. While some species of native bees nest in old wood and plant stems, most of them nest in the ground, which makes them excellent at digging and excavating. But the bumblebee is unique. yes it lives in the ground but it does not dig nor excavate its own tunnel. It is different than other bees - it is a social bee, led by a queen, similar to honey bees - and this means that it lives in a colony, sometimes with hundreds of others. For this primary reason, it needs a nesting site that is much more spacious than the narrow tunnel it would likely have been able to dig on its own.

The intelligent and resourceful bumblebee has found the perfect solution to this problem. It chooses to nest in the abandoned tunnels of ground burrowing animals; with the added benefit of the tunnels being lined with dry grasses and remnants of animal fur. And just to maintain their elusive nature, they never nest in the same place twice. Each year, even if their home was the finest, with all their needs being met; they still abandon the tunnel in search of a new home.

So when does all of this take place and when does the queen search for her new home?

Well, in spring of course, the most delightful time of all.

Well, actually it first began in late fall when the queen abandoned her natal home as she set out, all on her own, timed with the coolness of autumn. At this time, the queen searches for a place to settle down for the duration of winter. She doesn't go far, nor need to go deep - sometimes she just nestles down under the protective cover of fallen leaves or burrows beneath the surface of loose soil - and this is where she will spend the long, cold, snow-covered months ahead. During this time she will enter a dormant stage called a 'diapause' which allows her to survive the freezing temperatures. Then each year, in early spring, the queen emerges from hibernation and along with replenishing her energy by feeding on spring blossoms, she will spend her days zig-zagging, low to the ground, in search of a new dwelling place.

For the queen bumblebee to start a new colony in spring is entirely dependent on the conditions in the landscape, and depends on two primary factors - having enough food sources available and having the right ground conditions. Both of these factors depend on how we do our gardening, and landscaping each year.

If you would like your garden or backyard to be a more hospitable place for bumblebees, then follow along. Not only will I have updates on my search for bumblebees but I will also be sharing insights on specific plants, soil conditions and gardening practices. The ecology of the wild strawberry will be featured for its unique relationship to pollinators and other animals.

Thank you for reading!

Jen

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginia) Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)