In Canada, Koppert  rears B. impatiens for pollination
services.
 I have had success rearing other species of North American bumble bees.
So there probably isn't a need to import European bumble bees.
When it comes to rearing them, each species has its own
unique traits. With diligence, we begin by unravelling the intricate
social fabric which motivates nest construction and cohesion. If this
knowledge is forthcoming, we can provide a queen and her daughters
with a
comfortable environment. With some human attention,  bumble
bee colonies can be grown in areas where they normally occur.
        I am confident that the bumble bee industry will grow beyond the
few monopolies that exist now and beekeeping of the future will
adopt many of the wild bees, including the bumble bee, that  have always
provided their services for free.
 
 
See y'all,
 
Blair Sampson
Dept. of Entomology
Auburn University, Alabama
36849-5413
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