Bumblebees (Bombus spp.) face severe threats from habitat loss, pathogen spillover, climate change, and pesticide exposure, making their conservation a priority. However, current understanding about what represents high-quality bumblebee habitat remains limited, especially concerning their overwintering and nesting requirements. Given the challenges of observing bumblebees, particularly underground overwintering queens, our research aimed to identify these crucial habitat needs. Employing a 43-tower autonomous radio-tracking array, we monitored the movement behaviour of radio-tagged bumblebee queens to determine overwintering and nesting habitats. Prior to overwintering, queens exhibited reduced activity in late summer/ early fall, concentrating in areas of abundant floral resources, and overwintering sites included locations adjacent to nesting sites, gardens, and grassy hillsides. In contrast, spring queens displayed heightened activity during nest searches, exploring diverse habitats over large areas. Our findings contribute vital insights into bumblebee habitat requirements, enhancing conservation and recovery initiatives for these crucial insect pollinators.
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