[Communications] Help create habitat for the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee

[Libby Shafer]

[image: EHPI Logo.png]

Hello,


I'm excited to share the new *Evanston Host Plant Initiative*
<http://evanstonhostplants.org/> and invite you to help conserve the Rusty
Patched Bumble Bee. This native bee's population has declined over 87% in
the last twenty years, and we want to make sure that it continues to exist
here. Bumble bees are important pollinators for native flowers and the
crops that we eat, and they provide many benefits for people and the
ecosystem.


The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee relies on *at least 38 host plants native to
Illinois*
<https://www.fws.gov/midwest/Chicago/endangered/rpbb/pdf/RPBBMidwestPlantGuide.pdf>,
which are also beneficial for other pollinators. In partnership *Natural
Habitat Evanston <http://naturalhabitatevanston.org/>, *we are looking for
people to grow host plants and upload photos of host plants and bees to
iNaturalist.


*Two steps you can take to join our efforts:*

1. *Sign up on our website* <https://evanstonhostplants.org/>

2. *Join our iNaturalist project
<https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/host-plants-for-the-rusty-patched-bumble-bee>:*
"Host
Plants for the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee"

Thank you for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with
anyone who might be interested, and contact me with any questions. I look
forward to this growing season with you!

All my best,

Libby Shafer

Evanston Host Plant Initiative

DePaul Environmental Sciences Master's Student
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