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Watch as Eric Cole reads his own story about a child that transforms her grassy lawn into a natural paradise.

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On Meadowview Street | Storytime Read Aloud

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For questions regarding this program or to schedule your own class Q&A with MetroPark staff, contact Education Staff at FRMP_Education@metroparks.org

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Thank you for joining us on the Butterflies and Bees Virtual Field Trip! We hope you had fun and learned a lot about the pollinators around your school and home. Hopefully you got to spend a lot of good time outdoors too! We hope that sometime soon you can come out to one of our Five Rivers MetroParks too!

After watching this video, record your own video and tell us what you found most interesting about pollinators, and how you think you can help pollinators near you.

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It's important to get outside and explore, but did you know you could help scientists by letting them know the pollinators that you see? Learn how you can share your pollinator observations with scientists all around the world!

After watching the video, learn more about iNaturalist and The Great Sunflower Project by checking out their websites below.
Now, open up the GSP Datasheet resource. Teachers, please pick one of the datasheets to have the students use. Then, get outside to see what pollinators you can find! If you can, take a picture of a pollinator or a plant while you're out! Once you have observed pollinators at school or at home for 5 minutes, and recorded your data, take a video and tell us how it went! Did you submit any data to one of citizen science projects?

https://www.greatsunflower.org/

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How to Make an Observation on iNaturalist using our Mobile App

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What would the world, and our dinner plates, look like without pollinators?

After watching this video, think about your favorite foods. Do a little bit of research and find out if your favorite food is made by pollinators. Then, create a video telling us about your food, if a pollinator made your food, which pollinator made your food, and a thank you message for that pollinator!
(If your favorite food has lots of ingredients like pizza, pick one or two of those ingredients to investigate!)

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Bees are some of the most important pollinators, and they have a lot of unique characteristics that make them so! Let's learn all about the lives of our local bees!

After watching the video, please let us know where you often see bees at school or at home. If you don't see many bees, why do you think you don't see them? Are there any flying insects you thought were bees, but now know that they are flies or wasps?

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Butterflies are very showy insects, and lots of people enjoy watching them. Let's learn more about these important pollinators!

After watching the video, please head outside for 5 minutes and let us know what caterpillars and butterflies you see. It's okay if you don't know their names, feel free to draw a picture or describe what they look like! If you didn't find any, tell us what caterpillars and butterflies you have seen before.

TEACHERS: There are many other resources in this padlet to help your students identify what they find. Share at your leisure.

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Now that we know what pollination is, and how pollination leads to the creation of seeds, lets meet the important animals that make it all possible!

After watching this video, try the Pollinator Matching game. Then, go outside and see how many pollinators you can find using the Pollinator Tic Tac Toe worksheet.
Create a video telling us what pollinators you saw while outside. Why do you think pollinators are important?

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Kindergarten:

LIFE SCIENCE (LS)

Topic: Physical and Behavioral Traits of Living Things

K.LS.1: Living things have specific characteristics and traits.

K.LS.2: Living things have physical traits and behaviors, which influence their survival.

Social Studies:

GEOGRAPHY STRAND

Content Statement: 7. Humans depend on and impact the physical environment in order to supply food, clothing and shelter.

GOVERNMENT STRAND

Content Statement: 9. Individuals have shared responsibilities toward the achievement of common goals in homes, schools and communities.

First Grade:

LIFE SCIENCE (LS)

Topic: Basic Needs of Living Things

1.LS.1- Living things have basic needs, which are met by obtaining materials from the physical environment.

1.LS.2- Living things survive only in environments that meet their needs.

Social Studies:

GOVERNMENT STRAND

Content Statement: 8. Individuals have responsibility to take action toward the achievement of common goals in homes, schools and communities and are accountable for those actions.

Third Grade:

LIFE SCIENCE (LS)

Topic: Behavior, Growth and Changes

3.LS.2- Individuals of the same kind of organism differ in their inherited traits. These differences give some individuals an advantage in surviving and/or reproducing.

3.LS.3- Plants and animals have life cycles that are part of their adaptations for survival in their natural environments.

Social Studies:

GEOGRAPHY STRAND

Content Statement: 6. Evidence of positive and negative human modification of the environment can be observed in the local community.

GOVERNMENT STRAND

Content Statement: 10. Individuals make the community a better place by taking action to solve problems in a way that promotes the common good.

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Pollination is a big word, but describes a very important process of pollen moving from flower to flower to create fruit and new plant seeds. Pollen can move in lots of different ways, and is sometimes moved by animals. Watch this video to learn all about pollination and why our lives depend on pollination!

After watching the video, head outside and look at the plants near you. Do you see any flowers, or have the plants already created seeds? Then, create a video and let us know what plants you saw; if you saw flowers, fruit, or seeds; and if you saw any animals visiting the flowers.

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ExploreLearning : Get hands-on, minds-on in math and science

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Select an inquiry type above for suggestions

Please provide as much of the following information as possible:

Name of Gizmo

Detailed description of issue

Device being used

Username

Browser being used

Location: Home, or school

Please provide as much information as possible in your request.

Please provide your name and the name of your school and/or district.

Please provide as much information as possible in your request.

Please provide:

Your name

The name of you school and/or district

Contract number

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Flower Pollination Gizmo : ExploreLearning

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Observe the steps of pollination and fertilization in flowering plants. Help with many parts of the process by dragging pollen grains to the stigma, dragging sperm to the ovules, and removing petals as the fruit begins to grow. Quiz yourself when you are done by dragging vocabulary words to the correct plant structure.

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Welcome to Cox Arboretum and Wegerzyn Gardens, two amazing parks which are part of your Five Rivers MetroParks! We are excited to explore with you today!

After watching this video, record a short video of your own and...
👋 Say Hello
🤩 Let us know if you've been to a Five Rivers MetroPark before, and tell us about your favorite thing to do outdoors.

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Cox Arboretum MetroPark is a very special place for visitors to approach, enter and connect with nature. Come look at, discover and rest in the serenity and majesty of trees and shrubs thoughtfully arranged to capture the imagination.

The park is a beautiful and peaceful natural refuge that welcomes visitors to escape from everyday stresses and truly engage in natural wonder. Paths guide visitors from one habitat to the next, providing surprises in every season. Even loyal visitors will find opportunities for further exploration and reasons to delight in the natural transformation that occur each day. The Zorniger Education Campus and Barbara Cox Center for Sustainable Horticulture provide spaces for meaningful experiential learning every day for park visitors, volunteers and staff alike.

Apr. 1 - Oct. 31, 8 AM - 10 PMNov. 1 - Mar. 31, 8 AM - 8 PM Park Hours

After-hours restrooms available in the Kettering Learning Lab

Zorniger Education Center Hours
Year-round:
Mon. - Fri., 8 AM - 5 PM
Sat. - Sun., 11 AM - 4 PM
Closed on major holidays

Parking
Free parking is available.
Pet Policy
Dogs are welcome, but, for the safety and comfort of all patrons, they must be leashed and under control at all times.
Drone Policy
The use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones) is prohibited without a UAS Permit. Please refer to our policy page for additional info.
Group Tours
Schools and other groups may schedule guided and self-guided walking tours. Tram tours are available for adults with mobility issues. Call 937-275-PARK (7275) to schedule.

Learn more about tours.

The Butterfly House is closed for the 2021 season.
Want birds, bees and butterflies to dance in your garden? Visit the pollinator gardens outside of Cox Arboretum's Butterfly House to learn about pollinator-friendly plants and get ideas to make your backyard more pollinator-friendly. Supporting these winged creatures not only adds beauty, it will make your garden and the environment healthier.

The Barbara Cox Center for Sustainable Horticulture engages the community with opportunities for experiential learning about sustainability and horticulture to improve quality of life and to effect positive change in the world. This working facility showcases methods for growing plants critical for maintaining your MetroParks, from tree seeds to prairie plants. Stop by and get your hands dirty!

The Butterfly House currently is closed for the 2021 season.
The Butterfly House at Cox Arboretum MetroPark features native pollinator plants that naturally attract an array of butterflies and moths. Take note of the various host plant species in the house to create your own butterfly garden at home! Park in the main lot at Cox Arboretum MetroPark and follow the signs for the Butterfly House to find this attraction. It's best to visit on hot afternoons, when the butterflies are most active.

Adults and kids alike won't want to miss the 81-step climb up the park's magical Tree Tower.Constructed from a massive Douglas fir, the tower rises 65 feet above the conifer collection, and provides breathtaking, panoramic views of the Arboretum grounds and the Miami Valley.

Conservation Corner

This area of the park serves as a living library for environmental education. Species that are able to live only marginally in other areas thrive in the habitats preserved in Conservation Corner, through the management of multiple habitats in a 7-acre area.These habitats include a tall grass prairie, shrublands, wetlands and a bird blind for viewing wildlife. Conservation Corner is meant to demonstrate land stewardship and restoration ecology. Conservation Corner is easily accessed when you follow the paved path north from the Zorniger Education Center to the nature trails or at the west side of the Woodland Wildflower Garden. Take the Red Trail to discover these habitats and look for signs of native wildlife.

Ruth Cummings Mead Woodland

Many visitors to the Arboretum are surprised to discover this mature hardwood forest. There is an excellent range of native wildflowers and mature trees in this 100-acre tract of woodland at the rear of the Arboretum.Interesting trees include two groves of Asimina triloba , the Paw Paw. Take the paver path from the specialty gardens to the trail intersection behind the Butterfly House to reach the trailhead for the woodland's nature trails.

Buildings, gardens and paved paths comply with ADA standards. The facility is handicap accessible with the exception of natural trails and the tree tower.

Drinking water is available in the Zorniger Visitor Center during published hours.Outside drinking fountains, available seasonally, are located near the Butterfly House and in the plaza of the Barbara Cox Center for Sustainable Horticulture. A drinking water fountain equipped with a bottle filler is available on the plaza outside the Resource Center.

Note: These exhibits are currently closed.
Two interactive exhibits are available to visitors in the Adventure Bud (formerly the gift shop) within the Visitor Center at the Zorniger Education Campus:

Enjoy a family game called "Birds and Beets" designed to give players a fun way to discover more about gardening for wildlife or vegetables production.

A Discover board game lets visitors plan a day's adventure by adding magnets to a map of the Arboretum. Each magnet has a picture of something to do, to find or to watch while visiting the Arboretum. There is a set of magnets for each season.

Look for "spotted" signs in the wildflower garden, ELG, conifers and pollinators garden to learn about plants, bee or butterflies that are in bloom or in flight. These signs change from March to November.

A series of signs throughout the park called " Arbor Day is Every Day" highlights trees and the proper way to care for them. These educational signs are placed along the paved path in garden areas and can be seen from mid-April through October.

RTA Bus Route 19

Take Route 19 west on Third Street through downtown. This route will take you directly past Cox Arboretum.

Special indoor and outdoor venues are available for corporate events, retreats, holiday parties, receptions, weddings and other occasions.
View rental information

Public restrooms are available in the Zorniger Education Center during published hours.After-hours restrooms are located in the Kettering Learning Lab.

The Zorniger Education Campus is a series of buildings setting the stage for a wide variety of educational activities. Programs, events and workshops about horticulture and natural history are held year-round on the campus. View the programs and events finder for upcoming programs.

Stop by the Zorniger Education Center on your way into the park for maps, directions and restrooms. The Center is an interactive educational hub where visitors can learn more about the Arboretum (and all of Five Rivers MetroParks) prior to entering the park/garden areas.

Public wireless access is available in the Zorniger Education Center, Volunteer Center and Kettering Learning Lab.

Cox Arboretum contains significant natural areas, including two high-quality mature woodlots, dense cedar glades, succession areas (containing an abundance of dogwood and redbud trees), planted tallgrass prairie and created wetlands.

Conservation staff members work to protect the mature woodlands, including by removing invasive species that threaten the ecosystem. In other areas of the park, old fields are managed for natural succession to generate diverse future forests. Trilliums and ramps can be seen in the understory of the forest in the area where honeysuckle has been removed. Head to the nature trails behind the Butterfly House to see conservation in action.

The Woodland Wildflower Garden is the work of one of the most longstanding volunteer groups in the park district. For 50 years dedicated volunteers have rescued native wildflowers from threatened sites, propagated them and planted them in this young, successional woodland. During the spring, the wildflowers are at their peak. At the west end of the garden is a connection to the red trail and Conservation Corner.

Meadows, prairies, thickets, ponds and wetlands are also carefully managed in the park to reestablish native species and maintain healthy wildlife populations.

Visitors to the park in spring may see black smoke rising from the prairie. Controlled prairie burning is an important tool for managing prairie and early successional habitat. It releases nutrients and stimulates the growth of certain plant species.

All forms of native wildlife play a role in maintaining native habitats' ecological balance. Spiders, for example, help control the insect population. Without spiders, we may find ourselves overwhelmed with disease-carrying insects! Check out the native funnel web spiders at Cox Arboretum MetroPark. You can find them in the boxwoods near the entrance of the Shrub Garden.

The bird blind within Conservation Corner provides an opportunity for bird and wildlife viewing that includes two wetlands and 13 acres of prairie. Redwing blackbirds and common yellowthroat warblers are often seen at the bird blind.

View recent bird survey.
Butterfly House
The Butterfly House enables children and adults to view native butterflies and moths in all stages of metamorphosis. Species such as painted lady, red admiral, monarch, giant swallowtail, black swallowtail, spicebush swallowtail, tiger swallowtail, luna moth, cecropia moth, polyphemus moth and pipevine swallowtail are featured.

Visit the Butterfly House from late June through Labor Day to see several species of butterflies and caterpillars.

Want to see a garden that's beautiful - and tasty? Check out the Edible Landscape Garden at Cox Arboretum MetroPark. This display combines fruits, vegetables and herbs in an attractive arrangement that's as visually appealing as it is nutritious. Park in the lot and walk the paved path past the water garden and ponds. The Edible Landscape Garden is located behind the Memorial Arbor.

WATER GARDEN
Enjoy the serenity of a water garden landscaped with a mix of water-loving plants, perennial and shrub borders and seasonal displays.
STONEWALL PERENNIAL GARDEN
This mixed border features perennials chosen for year-round interest, including reliable garden favorites and promising new introductions.
ROCK GARDEN
Alpine plants, low-growing vegetation and dwarf conifers all thrive in this sloping garden of rocks and gravel. Peak blooming period is April and May.
CLEMATIS ARBOR
The Arbor blends elegance with function.Architectural elements inspired by the tree tower and Zorniger building complex combine to create the perfect setting to enjoy the tranquility of the lower pond or the formal lines of the Allée.
FLOWERING TREE ALLÉE
The Allée features 100 Kousa dogwood trees ( Cornus kousa ). These trees provide four seasons of interest - spring blooms, showy red fall foliage, ornamental bark and a bird-attracting fruit display late in the season. Kousa dogwoods also have a longer "service life" of 50+ years.
POLLINATOR GARDENS
Want birds, bees and butterflies to dance in your garden? Visit the pollinator gardens outside of Cox Arboretum's Butterfly House and garden to learn about pollinator-friendly plants and get ideas to make your backyard more pollinator friendly. Supporting these winged creatures not only adds beauty, it will make your garden and the environment healthier.
SHRUB GARDEN
This garden allows home gardeners to evaluate the growth and flowering habit, fall color and winter character of hundreds of different trees and shrubs.
EDIBLE LANDSCAPE GARDEN
Edible plants are featured here as ornamental components of the landscape. This garden combines beauty and utility through a unique display of fruits, vegetables and herbs. The pavilion serves as an outdoor classroom.
WOODLAND WILDFLOWER GARDEN
This young, successional woodland features a collection of native woodland wildflowers and nonnative species that can work well with natives in a residential shade garden. During the spring, the wildflowers are at their peak. At the west end of the garden is a connection to the Red Trail and Conservation Corner.

Geocaching is an activity combining technology and nature, using global positioning system (GPS) devices to search for and find "caches" hidden throughout the world. Visit www.geocaching.com and search by location to get started. Then head out on an adventure to find the geocaches hidden in this park.

James M. Cox, Jr. purchased a farm on the south edge of Dayton in January 1952, and three years later bought the 68 acres adjacent to it. In 1962, the land was established as the James M. Cox, Jr. Arboretum. Five Rivers MetroParks took on management of the facility in 1972.
View park history

The Arboretum grounds are easy to walk. Natural areas and Conservation Corner offer 2.5 miles of trails through woodlands and meadows. An overlook in the Ruth Cummings Mead Woodland provides a scenic view of native woodlands and a beautiful ravine. Birds and other wildlife can be watched from an observation area in Conservation Corner.

Cox Arboretum MetroPark contains significant natural areas including two high-quality mature woodlots, dense cedar glades, especially beautiful succession areas (containing an abundance of dogwood and redbud trees), planted tall-grass prairie and created wetlands.

Before European settlement, huge glaciers composed much of the landscape in our region. Find evidence at Cox Arboretum of these slow-moving giants responsible for carving the Great Lakes.

There's always something in bloom somewhere in the gardens. As some plants and flowers wane, others come into bloom and color.The diverse habitats in the park provide ideal spaces to capture the beauty of plants and native wildlife through the camera's eye.You might even get some garden ideas for your own yard!

Commercial photographers are required to have a permit to take pictures in the park.

Explore a working demonstration exhibit in the Compost Kitchen area of the park, near the Edible Landscape Garden. Learn about composting, observe the process and evaluate how to incorporate this aspect of land stewardship into your home.

Cox Arboretum MetroPark offers hundreds of volunteers the chance to use their time and talents in a wide variety of activities.

Get involved as a gardener, instructor or tour guide leading school or adult groups.

New volunteers are always welcome! For more information, call (937) 275-PARK (7275) or visit our volunteer page.

Park Amenities & Activities

Latitude: 39.652035

Longitude: -84.224033

This beautiful 174-acre facility is a special place for visitors to escape among trees, shrubs, specialty gardens, mature forests and prairies. The Arboretum hosts year-round educational programs that teach children and adults about sustainable horticulture, plant science and conservation.

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Cox Arboretum MetroPark is a very special place for visitors to approach, enter and connect with nature. Come look at, discover and rest in the serenity and majesty of trees and shrubs thoughtfully arranged to capture the imagination. The park is a beautiful and peaceful natural refuge that welcomes visitors to escape from everyday stresses and truly engage in natural wonder.

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This document will provide everything you need for the virtual fieldtrip.

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Butterflies and Bees: Life of a butterfly

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Butterflies and Bees: Life of a butterfly

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Butterflies and Bees: What if no pollinators?

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Butterflies and Bees: What if no pollinators?

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Butterflies and Bees: Who are pollinators?

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Butterflies and Bees: Who are pollinators?

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Butterflies and Bees: What is pollination?

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Butterflies and Bees: What is pollination?

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Butterflies and Bees Virtual Fieldtrip Videos

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Butterflies and Bees Virtual Fieldtrip Videos

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Teachers can access the Flipgrid for this fieldtrip at: https://admin.flipgrid.com/manage/discovery/collections/details/88279

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Use these resources to learn more about butterflies, bees, and other pollinators

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Please fill out a quick evaluation if you've used our content so we can continue to grow

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PBS Learning Interactive lesson plan and resources for the butterfly life cycle, including an import to Google Classroom button

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Butterfly Life Cycle | PBS LearningMedia

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Students explore how butterflies change and grow throughout their life cycle in this interactive lesson from NATURE. Through captivating video content and interactive activities, students will discover the amazing transformation process from a tiny caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. For more resources from NATURE, check out the collection page.

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Record Pollinator Observations with The Great Sunflower Project

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Record Pollinator Observations with The Great Sunflower Project

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This citizen science project does not require a camera, and there are 3 different projects you and your students could support! Check it out, as well as all their resources!

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I don't usually send two emails in a week. However, we are partnering with SciStarter to put materials for the Great Sunflower Project in public libraries in Arizona and they developed this great coloring page for kids. I thought it might help those of you who are parents or grandparents!

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Record Pollinator Observations with iNaturalist

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Record Pollinator Observations with iNaturalist

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As you and your students are observing pollinators at school and at home, be sure to record these when you can on iNaturalist, and share what your students see with the rest of the world! You can also add those observations to our Greater Dayton Schoolyard Project!

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Let's see what's living in and around your schoolyard! Five Rivers MetroPark wants to know what you find during your adventures at our parks, and back at school. Is the habitat at your school the same as at a MetroPark? How is your schoolyard wildlife different from other schools in the area?

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This field guide was put together by The Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

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This field guide was put together by The Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

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Common Bees and Wasps of Ohio Field Guide

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Common Bees and Wasps of Ohio Field Guide

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This field guide was put together by The Ohio Department of Natural Resources

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These activities help students not only understand an individual life cycle but the annual cycle of monarchs

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Select from these activities to extend learning:

Annual Cycle Puzzle
Print the puzzle page and cut into pieces. Challenge students to sequence the events of the monarch's annual cycle.

Calendar Handout
Challenge students to showcase what monarchs do throughout the year by writing month-by-month verbs on the calendar handout. This sheet can also be used for note-taking or assessment.

Hallway Timeline
After exploring the photos and text as a class, create a large timeline to showcase the month-by-month events of the monarch's annual cycle. As you track this season's migration, add your own backyard observations to the timeline. Will your observations match the expected events of the annual cycle or will you see unexpected surprises? Report observations to Journey North.

Seasonal Circle Book
Make a circle book to showcase the cyclical events by season (fall, winter, spring, summer). Encourage students to revisit the slideshow's facts and photos to construct their circle book. Display books in your school's library.

Annual Cycle Wheel
Display and discuss the sample annual cycle wheel. Give your students a design challenge: How would you showcase the significant month-by-month events of the monarch's annual cycle on a circular wheel? What words and images would you use to showcase where monarchs are and what they are doing throughout the year?

Cause-Effect Flow Charts
Sunlight drives seasonal change. Choose key events from the annual cycle and explore cause-effect relationships by creating flow charts. Draw boxes and arrows to showcase the chain of events that start with sunlight changes. Sample Chain of Events:

Sun, Temps Warm, Monarchs Warm Enough to Fly

Sun, Milkweed Emerges, Monarchs Can Lay Eggs

Other Showcase Challenges
Have students synthesize what they learned about the monarch's annual cycle by designing flip books, desktop calendars, lapbooks, file folder games, or accordian books.

Calendar
blank

Annual Cycle Wheel
blank | sample

Cause-Effect
blank | sample

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The Annual Cycle of the Monarch Butterfly: Teaching Suggestions

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Select from these activities to extend learning: Annual Cycle Puzzle Print the puzzle page and cut into pieces. Challenge students to sequence the events of the monarch's annual cycle. Calendar Handout Challenge students to showcase what monarchs do throughout the year by writing month-by-month verbs on the calendar handout.

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This will help students and their families attract butterflies to their yards, or help teachers and students attract butterflies to the school yard!

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Tons of Monarch Activities for Your Lesson Plans 

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Tons of Monarch Activities for Your Lesson Plans 

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This list of free activities can be added to lesson plans in a variety of grade levels and subject matters.

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Observing Fall Migration and Habitat

Other Migration Studies: Tagging and Monitoring

The Overnight Roost

Geography and Migration Pathways

The Wintering Grounds in Mexico

The Arrival in Mexico!

Adaptations for Survival

Assessment

North America's Monarch Populations

Other Species That Migrate When Monarchs Migrate

Life Cycle

Annual Cycle

Annual Cycle

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Fall Monarch Lesson plan and science standard alignments

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Observing Fall Migration and Habitat Other Migration Studies: Tagging and Monitoring The Overnight Roost Geography and Migration Pathways The Wintering Grounds in Mexico The Arrival in Mexico! Adaptations for Survival Assessment North America's Monarch Populations Other Species That Migrate When Monarchs Migrate Life Cycle Annual Cycle Annual Cycle

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Bumble Bee Colony Life Cycle

Spring

Queens that have overwintered emerge - typically in mid to late April and early May. Queens now are essentially solitary - founding a nest and provisioning it with pollen and nectar. She first creates wax pots from glands on her abdomen - in which she stores nectar. Finally, she lays her first crop of eggs into the pollen balls she has brought back, creating a "brood clump". The queen will rear the first round of female worker bees alone - having to forage for food, incubate the brood clump, defend the nest, and feed herself. The eggs hatch into larvae, resembling maggots, and progress through several larval stages before spinning a cocoon and completing the transformation, called metamorphosis, into adult workers.

Early Summer

The first workers emerge from their silken cocoons 2-3 weeks after being laid as eggs, and take over the duties of searching for food, caring for brood, and defending the nest. From hereon out, the queen will remain inside the colony laying eggs and caring for brood. The nest is incubated, with temperatures hovering consistently around 30C even when the outside temperature is far colder, even down to 0C.

Late Summer and/or Fall

Colonies are typically at their maximal size, ranging from 30 to upwards of 400 individuals (depending on the species). At this point, the queen begins to lay unfertilized eggs, which will develop into males, called drones, and workers will begin to rear fertilized eggs into new queens, called gynes. Drones and gynes leave the nest and mate. Worker production at this point has typically ceased, and the workers and founding queen will all die out naturally, leaving only the newly mated gynes. The switch point to making reproductives (drones and gynes) ranges in time depending on the species, occurring as early as late June, and as late as August-September.

Winter

Mated gynes will build fat reserves and locate a suitable location for overwintering - usually digging into loose soils and thatch. Gynes then enter diapause by synthesizing alcohol molecules (similar to antifreeze) to protect their cells and organs from freezing. A typical slumber ranges from 6-9 months.

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Bumble Bee Colony Lifecycle Bees have an impressive array of different life histories - from the highly complex and industrious colonies of honey bees, to lonesome solitary bees that play the role of queen, nurse, and defender of the nest. Bumble bees fall close to honey bees and are classified as "eusocial" bees.

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Ohio Bee Atlas is a fun easy way for everyone to help bees! Use the free iNaturalist app to take pictures of bees on flowers and submit observations to the Ohio Bee Atlas project. Experts weigh in to help identify bee observations.

Ohio Bee Atlas is a cooperative effort of US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, The Ohio State University, The University of Akron, as well as several Ohio park districts and other conservation organizations. It was primarily established to document the distribution and identity of bumblebees due to the recent listing of the rusty patched bumblebee ( Bombus affinis) as a federally endangered species ( more information here). However, records of all bees are encouraged. Through iNaturalist, observers can upload observations of bees in Ohio.

The rusty patched bumble bee was once a common species throughout much of Ohio, occupying a variety of habitats that include prairies, woodlands, marshes, agricultural landscapes and residential parks and gardens. Photos of the back and face are most useful for identification, but feel free to submit records simply as "bee". Here is a pocket guide from The Xerxes Society to aid in the identification of the bumblebee.
Ohio Bee Atlas press release Learn more about Ohio bee identification here.
Sign up with iNaturalist to join the Ohio Bee Atlas effort. The image below from iNaturalist describes the process of posting observations.
Find iNaturalist training videos here.
Formal survey protocols (quantifying search time and area) have been developed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service to provide more information on bee presence/absence, densities and richness. We are presently working on a website that will provide a means of describing and collecting data on the Level 2 protocol, which we are encouraging for those with more interest.

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Ohio Bee Atlas is a fun easy way for everyone to help bees! Use the free iNaturalist app to take pictures of bees on flowers and submit observations to the Ohio Bee Atlas project. Experts weigh in to help identify bee observations.

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Use this video to learn how to safely observe bees, and use these creatures for classroom exploration and inquiry. Share your feedback, questions, and comments below!

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Students can play this interactive game outside, which demonstrates just how hard it can be to be a butterfly.