Using historical records to predict ecological trends in Midwest bumble bees

Bumble bees are critical pollinators, and their declines have been influenced by widespread shifts in land use and climate throughout the past century. To best predict how the future will impact these species, it is necessary to look back at historic bumble bee populations throughout centuries of change. Further, bumble bees’ abundance and large size make them ideal targets for collectors and fitting subjects for specimen-based research. Applying a specimen-based approach, we compiled >5,000 bumble bee records, sourcing from online repositories, university collections, and personal databases. With these data, we analyzed ecological trends in 9 species of Indiana bumble bees, incorporating records dating from the early 1900s to today. We analyzed phenological shifts and distributional patterns for Indiana bumble bees, and outlined future steps for modeling relative abundance. Through this project, we can better understand historical shifts in Indiana bumble bee ecology and establish a baseline from which we can assess future changes.