Endangered Bumblebee Found

July 16, 2024 - 05:00 PM

Two biology students are buzzing about their discovery of an endangered bumblebee in the Wildlife Sanctuary.

Andrew Martinez and Marlon Harrington, both of Chino, discovered the Bombus crotchii, also known as Crotch’s bumblebee, during a visit in the Spring. The bee is larger than most bumblebees and likes to munch on black sage, which is plentiful in the sanctuary, Marlon said. 

Andrew, a photographer, hangs out in nature in between classes and always takes a camera with him.

“I am always trying to catalog every species we have,” he said. “I think we had seen the bumblebee before but this time I got a picture of it.”

The bumblebee is listed as endangered by both the state and federal government, and according to Los Padres Forest Watch, the impacts of pesticides, climate change, and human development are primarily to blame.

Marlon, who, like Andrew, wants to become a field biologist, described the bee as very cute with a personality.

“They are a very charismatic bumblebee. They are very fuzzy and they are personable. They are kind of clumsy and fun to watch.” 

Confirming the discovery took a lot of legwork, according to Andrew and Marlon, including seeking community input on iNaturalist and a Facebook group dedicated to identifying bumblebees.  The two also had the finding confirmed by the statewide pollinator coordinator for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The students, and their professor Mark Cooper, credited the recent restoration of the Wildlife Sanctuary with the re-appearance of the bee and other native fauna and flora.

“This is an indicator of the success of restoration,” Marlon said. “It shows that ‘if you build it, they will come.’ The plants, the water, and everything that is supposed to be there, the native species that rely on it, will find it. The goal has been accomplished so far.”