The rusty patch bumble bee (Bombus affinis) used to be one of North America's most common native bees, but is now endangered.

This bee is one of the earliest to emerge in the spring and the last to die off in the fall. Throughout its adult life, it needs a variety of native wildflowers to gather food. This pin depicts a female worker bee foraging a favorite flower of bumble bees, the patridge pea.

This soft enamel pin is double-posted and comes on a kraft Bug Box backer card. Unnumbered; originally from our March 2023 Bug Box.

Drop date: April 7, 2023.