Using historic data to inform collection effort for rare bumble bees

Historic collections of bumble bees exist in institutional collections in large numbers. While informative data is contained on insect labels, the current format of the data is difficult to utilize. We have complied the historic collection data for Bombus occidentalis, a bee experiencing population declines, from several university collections, federal institutions, and historic publications. From these data we have created a database and georeferenced the historic collection locations set that the data is compatible with modern geographic information systems software to make informed sampling decisions. In 2007 and 2008 we revisited several of the collection locations from the historic data sets and demonstrated the utility of these historic sets in monitoring at risk populations.