The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, Bombus affinis, was first spotted at Nahant Marsh in 2020 and again in 2021. This bumble bee is federally endangered and was officially listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2017. Bumble bees are ground nesting insects that live in colonies with a queen and many worker bees. Rusty Patched Bumble Bees emerge early in the spring and require a constant source of nectaring plants throughout the spring and summer. Nahant Marsh has been working to improve bumble bee habitat through prairie restoration and enhancement projects. These multi-year projects consisted of invasive grass removal, shrub removal, and overseeding the prairies with many flowers that the bees favor as nectar sources.
