Range Extension of Two Bumble Bee Species (Hymenoptera: Apidae) into Olympic National Park

Recent research has uncovered the presence of two previously undocumented bumble bee species, Bombus sylvicola and B. vandykei, within Olympic National Park's wilderness regions, marking a significant range extension for these cold-adapted pollinators. Species distribution models revealed that the Olympic Mountains offer high habitat suitability for B. sylvicola, positioning it as an isolated 'habitat island' distinct from its contiguous populations in the Cascade and Sierra Nevada ranges, while showing lower suitability for B. vandykei. The study leveraged range-wide locality records to assess potential conservation priorities, highlighting the sensitivity of bumble bees to environmental changes and underscoring their ecological importance in supporting both wild and cultivated flowering plants.

Koch, J. B., Looney, C., Sheppard, W. S., & Strange, J. P. (2016). Range Extension of Two Bumble Bee Species (Hymenoptera: Apidae) into Olympic National Park. Northwest Science, 90(2), 228–234. https://doi.org/10.3955/046.090.0212