Here is an interesting story about Bombus occidentalis, a bumble bee that has been disappearing from the western United States. My graduate student Quinn McFrederick showed that it had disappeared from San Francisco several years ago and scientists realized it was disappearing from all the Western states. Reuters is reporting that some people are starting to detect increases in their populations again! Apparently, an amateur bee enthusiast spotted one in her garden and a local photographer/bee expert followed up! What a great tale.
Here is the story.