More Bumblebees Spotted on Front Range

Aspen Public Radio

Published September 9, 2013 at 9:59 AM MDT

Bees around the world have been having a rough time for several years. Populations are going down, even completely disappearing in some places. Researchers haven’t fully figured out what’s wrong; pesticides are among one of the possible culprits.

CU Boulder biologist Carol Kearns and undergraduate researcher Benajamin Bruffey work to catch a bumblebee sitting on a thistle bloom.

Now some good news from the Front Range about what’s called the Western Bumblebee. More and more are showing up in a multi-year study near Boulder. CU Boulder Professor Carol Kearns says it’s easy to spot them, because they have, well, white “butts,” or part of their abdomen. Kearns talks with Aspen Public Radio’s Elise Thatcher.