Minnesota's State Bee
Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis)
In 2019, the rusty patched bumble bee became Minnesota's state bee. Once common throughout the eastern United States and Midwest, its historic range has substantially contracted and now occurs in a small fraction of its former range. After The Xerces Society petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the species for protection under the Endangered Species Act, the Service formally listed the bee as federally endangered in January, 2017. To date, scattered rusty patched bumble bee populations still persist in Minnesota.
Worker
Male
Male
Queen
Queen
Worker
Male
Given its persistence in Minnesota, in 2019 the state officially designated the rusty patched bumble bee as the state bee. The intent of the designation is to raise awareness about the importance of bees and other pollinators, the habitats they depend upon, and the need to conserve those habitats.
In Minnesota, vehicle owners can display their support for the state bee by purchasing the critical habitat license plate featuring the rusty patched bumble bee and Monarch. Proceeds from license plate sales support state pollinator habitat enhancement projects.
Learn more about the rusty patched bumble bee:
Page Photography Credits
Heather Holm
Page Illustration Credits
Elaine Evans, Xerces Society - bumble bee illustrations