Minnesota Bumble Bee Atlas
Minnesota Bumble Bee Atlas: Online training

Welcome to the Online Training Portal! Below you will find a downloadable zip file that contains PDF's of the participant handbook, the bumble bee identification guide, and data sheets. After downloading, right click on the file to "unzip" the folder. Then, using the materials inside, work your way through the series of video modules to prepare yourself for the upcoming survey season. Or use the online Training Packet.

Video training

Training Part I: Intro to bumble bees and the Atlas

Bumble Bee Ecology, Conservation and an Introduction to the Bumble Bee Atlas

Recorded Live on 26 May 2020

Note: While recorded for the Nebraska Bumble Bee Atlas, this video will provide you with important background information on bumble bees that is relvelant for Minnesota bumble bees. While the methods for the Minnesota Atlas are very similar to Nebraska, please defer to the specific instructions for Minnesota.

MN Bumble Bee Atlas: Intro

Recorded live 15 May 2022.

Learn why we are surveying bumble bees in MN, how you can participate, and what special precautions you need to take to keep the rusty-patched bumble bee safe.

Training Part 2: Bumble bee identification

Minnesota Bumble Bee Identification

Recorded 27 May 2020

Learn how to tell bumble bees from look alikes and get the basic bumble bee ID skills you will need to conduct surveys for the Minnesota Bumble Bee Atlas.

Rusty-patched Bumble Bee Identification

Recorded live on June 15, 2022

Everyone should learn what to look for to spot rusty-patched bumble bees. If your grid contains or is adjacent to a grid with red areas, please pay extra attention to gain confidence in rusty-patched bumble bee identification.

Training Part 3: Instructions

Conducting a Bumble Bee Atlas Survey

How to catch bees

Recorded live on June 12, 2022.

Learn how to catch bumble bees in line with survey protocols.

Training Part 4: Practice your skills

  1. Online tutorials, flashcards and an interactive guide can be found at the UMN Bee Atlas

  2. Test your skills at identifying males versus females.

  3. Test your bumble bee anatomy skills.

  4. Test your bumble bee ID skills.