University of Guelph study uses Bluetooth technology to track queen bumblebee movement and nesting behaviour.
Queen bumblebees at the University of Guelph Arboretum will be carrying some of the smallest tracking devices ever used in pollinator research this summer. Fifty queens are being fitted with ultra-lightweight Bluetooth radiotransmitters as part of a study aimed at better understanding bumblebee movement patterns and nesting behaviour.
The research marks the first time this technology has been applied to the common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens), an important native pollinator for many Canadian crops. Researchers aim to answer two key questions: whether this new tracking technology can be effectively used on bumblebees, and whether captive-reared queens behave differently from wild queens once released.
A New Tool for Pollinator Research
The project uses Blu+ radiotransmitters, developed by Cellular Tracking Technologies, which operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. These transmitters function similarly to Apple AirTags, using Bluetooth signals that can be detected by nearby cellular-enabled devices such as smartphones. When detected, the signal is relayed through cellular networks, allowing researchers to collect a high number of location points.
Weighing just 0.06 grams, the solar-powered transmitters are among the lightest tracking devices available and are well suited for flying insects. Heavier tags have previously been used on queen bumblebees with success, which suggests that the added weight of the Blu+ transmitters should not interfere with normal movement or flight.
The transmitters were successfully used to track monarch butterflies to their overwintering grounds in fall 2025. However, this study represents the first attempt to apply the technology to bumblebees, whose biology presents additional challenges.
Challenges of Tracking Underground Nesters
Unlike monarch butterflies, bumblebees spend significant time underground, particularly during nesting. This raises questions about how well the transmitters will perform beneath the soil surface. The antenna may interfere with underground movement, and exposure to moisture from dew, soil, and debris could affect signal reliability.
Because the Blu+ transmitters are solar-powered and do not contain batteries, extended periods underground may also limit their performance. Testing these limitations is one of the primary goals of the project, as it will help determine whether Bluetooth-based tracking is a viable long-term tool for bumblebee research.
Comparing Captive and Wild Queens
In addition to evaluating the technology itself, researchers are examining behavioural differences between captive-reared and wild queen bumblebees. Both groups will be tagged and released in the Arboretum, where their movements will be monitored during the critical spring nesting period.
If sufficient data are collected, researchers will analyze differences in movement range, nesting site selection, and overall behaviour. This information is especially relevant for conservation and pollinator support programs that rely on captive rearing and release.
Understanding whether captive queens move and nest similarly to wild queens can help guide future strategies to support pollinator populations in both natural and agricultural landscapes.
Public Participation Through Everyday Technology
Members of the public visiting the University of Guelph Arboretum can play a direct role in the research. Because the trackers rely on Bluetooth connections, visitors are encouraged to turn on Bluetooth on their iPhones while walking through the area.
Each passing smartphone that detects a transmitter helps relay location data, increasing the number of successful detections. This form of passive participation allows the public to support pollinator research without altering their behaviour or interfering with the bees.
As farmers know, bumblebees are vital pollinators for many Canadian crops, including greenhouse vegetables, berries, and field-grown fruits and oilseeds. Queen survival and successful nesting directly influence local bumblebee populations, which in turn affect pollination success.
Insights from this study may help researchers and farmers better understand how landscape features, habitat availability, and management practices influence bumblebee movement and nesting success.
Over time, this knowledge could support farm practices that encourage healthy pollinator populations, such as protecting undisturbed ground areas and maintaining diverse field margins.
By combining cutting-edge technology with community participation, the University of Guelph project offers a promising new way to study pollinators that are essential to both agriculture and ecosystem health.