Catching queens: a new kind of fieldwork

Posted onOctober 24, 2024byDana Stubbs|Bumble Bee Recovery, Native Pollinator Initiative, News and Events

Photo above: Dana in the field using a bug net to catch bumble bees. Photo: Braelyn Smallwood

When I first stepped into the world of bumble bee conservation, I was entering uncharted territory. My background was in marine biology, and before this role, I had never worked with bees. Transitioning from studying marine life to understanding the world of bumble bees was both thrilling and daunting. It felt like I was trading the vast, mysterious ocean for the equally complex, but much smaller, world of these incredible pollinators.

At the beginning of my time as a bumble bee conservation technician, my primary task involved heading out into the field during the spring to catch bumble bees. We headed out to the most beautiful conservation areas and I was handed a big net and a cooler bag full of vials. I was on top of the world; I was out in nature peacefully walking around, recording all the flowers I saw and looking out for bumble bees. When it came to catching them that first day, it was my first time trying but I thought, how hard could it be? I’d been tossed around by currents trying to measure fish lengths using my hands and forearms as references, I had swum around sharks trying to grab marine snail shells and I’d been slammed by waves on the intertidal of the Indian Ocean while trying to identify species. Perhaps I came in a little overconfident in my potential bee-catching abilities. I can’t even count how many times I swung for a flying bee, only to end up spinning in circles and walking away with an empty net—or worse, a net with stray leaves and twigs stuck in it from my enthusiastic but slightly off-target attempts. Though I soon caught my first bee and then my second, and so on, I can assure you that the thrill never goes away. My role here has even found me bragging to my friends about the day the team caught 206 bumble bees (much to their disinterest).

We caught all that we could, identified each species and then diligently recorded which ones we found and how many of each species. All of a sudden I was identifying bumble bees on the spot when two weeks before I couldn’t have said more than “this one has more yellow than that one”. When we caught one of our two target species – the yellow-banded and the tri-coloured – as long as they were queens with no pollen (to indicate they hadn’t yet made their colonies), they were brought back to our lab to be raised there and contribute to our research, breeding program, and overall conservation efforts. The bees we caught that were not our target species were recorded and then released.

Though these fieldwork days were long, I loved every minute of them! I enjoyed exploring different areas and chatting with hikers who were curious about what I was doing with a big net and determination in my eyes. It was incredible to see how many people genuinely cared about our work and shared a passion for bumble bee conservation. Being out in the field brought some wonderfully unpredictable experiences (like the day a lovely family walked their pet chicken and let me hold it or when we ended up at a Christmas themed cafe on the way to one of our surveys) and offered countless opportunities to learn. Each day presented new challenges and insights, deepening my understanding of bumble bees and their role in our ecosystem.

Dana and a pet silkie chicken. Photo: Cole Blair

Our efforts through these surveys has provided important information to contribute to data on the types of species and amounts that are present in different areas and allows us to compare with past years, allowing me to contribute meaningfully to bumble bee population monitoring around the areas I grew up in.

(Left) A black and gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus) and (right) a yellow-banded bumble bee (Bombus terricola) that were caught during our surveys. Photos: Dana Stubbs

Monitoring Bumble Bee Populations: Counting Wings Instead of Fins

Back in the lab, the focus shifts from the wild to the controlled environment of our bumble bee colonies. Here, I’m learning all about bumble bee husbandry and the ins and outs of bumble bee conservation practices at the WPC lab. I’m doing everything from setting up mating trials to conducting colony checks – where we complete tasks like giving the bees pollen and nectar, counting their egg cells and workers, removing males and possible gynes (future queens) for mating, and recording all the information about the colonies progress so we can see how each one is doing – and the never-ending job of washing the lab dishes (which is very important and a job I’ve found myself quite dedicated to). Beyond that, I make pollen and nectar to give to our bees and conduct regular lab activities to keep everything running smoothly. Most of these tasks are ones I didn’t know could be tasks until a couple of months ago, much less ones that I would become good at. It’s fascinating to witness how a single queen, with the help of her worker bees, can establish a thriving colony.

Dana holding three male yellow-banded bumble bees that were born in the lab. We put a purple dot on them so that we know which colony they came from. Fun fact: male bumble bees don’t have stingers so are safer to handle! Photo: Dana Stubbs

Spreading the Buzz: Citizen Science and Education

One of the highlights of my role is participating in citizen science events and sharing my knowledge about bees with other people. I have the opportunity to chat with people every day at African Lion Safari to answer questions and share my newfound bumble bee insights. I have participated in the annual volunteer training event at Pinery Provincial Park where we train volunteers on how to conduct their own bumble bee population surveys! Sharing what I’ve learned with others has been incredibly fulfilling. It’s a bit surreal to think that not too long ago, I knew next to nothing about bees. Now, I’m educating others, helping them understand the importance of these pollinators, and maybe even inspiring them to act in their communities.

From Marine Biology to Bumble Bee Conservation

My experience in the bumble bee world has moved me so far beyond my water-based comfort zone and has revealed some incredibly unexpected passions. I’ve gone from knowing nothing about bees to feeling like I’m part of something truly important, contributing to the knowledge base we have about bumble bees and aiding in their conservation. From the thrill of catching bees in the wild to the pride in seeing a colony thrive under our care, my role has provided a constant reminder of the incredible resilience and importance of these tiny but mighty creatures and our role in their conservation.

Dana Stubbs

Bumble Bee Conservation Technician – Native Pollinator Initiative

Dana holds a master’s degree in marine biology, where she gained expertise in ecosystem dynamics and species interactions. After her studies, she transitioned into pollinator conservation as a bumble bee conservation technician, gaining hands-on experience in population monitoring and captive breeding. She is passionate about combining research with practical conservation and community engagement to protect wildlife and enhance ecosystem resilience.

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Catching queens: a new kind of fieldwork

Monitoring Bumble Bee Populations: Counting Wings Instead of Fins

Spreading the Buzz: Citizen Science and Education

From Marine Biology to Bumble Bee Conservation

Dana Stubbs

Bumble Bee Conservation Technician – Native Pollinator Initiative

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