Utilization of urban green spaces by bumble bees (Bombus spp.) in North Texas.

Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are adept pollinators of many cultivated and wild flowering plants, but many species have experienced declines in recent decades.  Though urban sprawl has been implicated as a driving force of such losses, urban green spaces may serve as habitat islands for Bombus populations if managed appropriately.  This research investigates how local and landscape-scale factors influence the utilization of urban green spaces in North Texas by bumble bees, including B. pensylvanicus, a species that is common locally, but experiencing national range reductions.  Here we present preliminary results gathered from historic museum records in order to establish baseline data on Bombus species presence in the study area.  The final results of this study will supply current data about North Texas Bombus populations in both natural reference sites and urban areas, as well as evaluate the potential of urban green spaces to aid in the conservation of these pollinators.