Photo of Bombus affinis (Rusty-patched Bumblebee)

USA: INDIANA
Marion Co. = Indianapolis
Daubenspeck Park, W. 89th St. & Ditch Rd.
39 55' ~2'' N, 86 11' ~4'' W
On red clover and Monarda fistulosa in planted prairie, in suburbs.
VIII - 1 - 2009
Photographer Greg Page
(bee was not collected)

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Bombus affinis was common in Marion Co. until the early 2000s, when it disappeared here
as it did in the rest of its range (midwestern and northeastern US; southeastern Canada.)

Greg and I were taking a guided walk in a new nature park, which is being planted to various
prairie plants and is near a small woods and stream. I saw this *huge* worker, and called him
over to photograph it.
The following weekend we searched this spot again and found three affinis (photos avail on request).

Other Bombus present were auricomus, fervidus workers and males, griseocollis
males and one queen, and impatiens workers and one male. The griseo and impatiens
were working grey coneflower and other yellow composites, e.g. rosinweed; the other
spp. were on red clover or Monarda.

ALSO: Other people have seen B. affinis this August in the Pinery Provincial Park in southern Ontario, and in Toledo, Ohio, and in Elgin, Illinois. YES!!!