Mapping the Native Bumble Bees (Bombus) of Colorado

With over 20,000 known species, bees are some of the most important pollinators providing crucial ecological services for wild ecosystems and humans. Of the bee species, bumble bees (Bombus) play a significant role in the pollination of wildflowers and plants in temperate latitudes, especially in high-elevation regions. Scientific studies have found that bumble bee species are in decline, and with 24 of the 46 Bombus species residing in Colorado, our team wanted to create a series of maps that displays the density of each species to see where they are located throughout the state, and to hopefully help create new research ideas to address their geographical patterns of distribution.