Iowa DNR calls for volunteers to monitor native bumble bee populations.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking volunteers to assist in tracking the state’s native bumble bee populations. This initiative is part of the Iowa Bumble Bee Atlas, a community project aimed at gathering data on local bumble bee species. In collaboration with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, the project was launched in response to the endangered status of the rusty patched bumble bee, highlighting the need for more knowledge about Iowa's bee populations. Wildlife diversity biologist Stephanie Shepherd noted that the listing of the rusty patched bumble bee prompted a greater focus on understanding all bumble bee species in the state.