Page 2 - Kind News, Jr. Activity Guide, March/April 2025

ANSWER KEY

Critter Clues FROM PAGE 7
Our mystery critter is the bumblebee. In spring,
hungry bumblebee queens will emerge from their solitary
winter hibernation and prepare a new colony. It’s common
to see them on flowers, hurriedly gathering strength-
building pollen and nectar and pollinating early flowers
along the way. One species, the endangered Rusty Patched
Bumblebee, is one of the earliest insects to become active
in March-April.
Once strong enough, the queen will find a nesting site in native
grasses or an abandoned animal burrow. She lays her eggs in wax
cells, and feeds her young larvae more pollen and nectar. After
spinning a cocoon and developing into adults in the coming weeks, the VISIT
first brood of “worker” females will continue work on the nest. Their mother KINDNEWS.ORG
COVER: KARA COOPER. THIS PAGE: KORNILOV OLEG/BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM.
queen will hunker down inside, laying more eggs and ordering her workers around. for online
activities!
As the season progresses, the colony will produce males and new queens who will
all leave the nest to mate. In addition to helping a number of plant species grow —
including tomatoes and strawberries for human consumption and wildflowers for
wildlife — bees are an important food source for wild birds and reptiles.
Sadly, the once farthest ranging bumblebee in the US, the American bumblebee has
experienced a whopping 90% population decline over the past 20 years. In particular, a
class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids or “neonics” are blamed by environmentalists for
mass bumblebee deaths due to weakened immune systems and disruption to the animals’
communication and navigation abilities. Development, climate change, and other diseases
have also contributed to habitat loss. People can help by providing food, water, cover, and
homes in yards, garden spaces, on porches or
balconies. Visit nwf.org for support in
growing a wildlife habitat garden.

Where’s Raja?
RAJA IS HIDING ON PAGE 6!

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