Wild Ones: Bumble Bee Queens, Nests, and Spring Wildflowers

Hosted by: Wild Ones Southwest/Wehr Chapter

Dr. Jeff Karron’s talk features striking slow-motion videography to highlight the interdependence of bumblebee queens and spring-flowering perennial plants. Early blooming native perennials provide the essential food resources queens need to survive, establish nests, and successfully raise their first brood. In turn, many spring-flowering plants depend heavily on bumble bees for effective pollination and seed production. All video and photography featured in this presentation were filmed in high-quality prairie and woodland sites across southeastern Wisconsin. The talk highlights the importance of conserving and restoring early-season floral resources to sustain bumblebee populations.