Kim Bennett’s scientific contributions

Northern Ontario, Canada, is one of the few places in North America with little to no data on the local/resident bumble bee fauna. This region is rich in mineral resources and is at risk of being developed for resource extraction before its fauna are catalogued. We report on 220 individuals from 11 species of bumble bees (Bombus spp.) collected as part of large scale biodiversity surveys of northern Ontario and Akimiski Island, Nunavut from 2009-2015. Bees were collected using several methods, including Malaise traps, pan traps, pitfalls, Nzi traps, and sweep netting. We report a first record of B. ternarius Say from Nunavut, new records for B. melanopygus Nylander, and B. sylvicola Kirby in Ontario, and new range extensions or gap infills for B. borealis Kirby, B. flavidus Eversmann, B. flavifrons Cresson, B. frigidus Smith, B. terricola Kirby, B. vagans Smith, and confirm the presence of B. polaris Curtis and B. sandersoni Franklin in this region. We discuss how development and resource extraction may affect B. terricola habitat.