Rusty Patched Bumble Bee

Bombus affinis, commonly known as the rusty patched bumble bee, is a species of bumblebee endemic to North America. Its historical range in North America has been throughout the east and upper Midwest of the United States, north to Ontario, Canada, where it is considered a "species at risk", east to Quebec, south to Georgia, and west to the Dakotas. Its numbers have declined in 87% of its historical habitat range.

In April 2010 it was assessed as Endangered in Canada, through the work of Sheila Colla and colleagues. On January 10, 2017, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service placed B. affinis on the list of endangered species, making the rusty patched bumble bee the first bee to be added to the list in the continental United States.

The rusty patched bumble bee inhabits diverse open habitats including tallgrass prairies, oak savannas, woodland edges, and agricultural landscapes with abundant wildflowers. Queens require undisturbed soil or leaf litter for underground nest sites, while workers forage on native plants like wild bergamot, New England aster, and goldenrod throughout the growing season.