Endangered Pollinators

 Pollinators are keystone species in natural ecosystems. But habitat loss, climate change, and use of agricultural pesticides contribute greatly to population decline and disrupt ecological interactions.

One of these endangered pollinators is the Rusty Patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis). They formerly inhabited the eastern coast of the United States and extended west through the Midwest towards Minnesota and North Dakota. Now you can find them only on a fraction of this region.

From bees to butterflies to bats - and even birds - you can learn about endangered pollinators, and the plants they associate with, over at the Pollinator Partnership - and even download a full-sized poster.