UPDATE: The countdown has begun for the sixth annual Robbin Thorp Memorial First-Bumble Bee-of-the-Year Contest, hosted by the Bohart Museum of Entomology. The contest officially launches just after midnight on January 1, 2026, challenging participants to capture the first photograph or video of a bumble bee in Solano or Yolo Counties.
The competition kicks off at 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Day. To enter, contestants must email their verified submissions to the Bohart Museum at [email protected], detailing the date, time, and location of their sighting. The first verified entry will be awarded a commemorative coffee cup featuring Franklin’s bumble bee, an endangered species that the late Robbin Thorp passionately studied.
This contest honors the legacy of Robbin Thorp, a globally recognized bee expert and emeritus professor at UC Davis, who passed away in 2019. Thorp dedicated decades to the study of bumble bees, often eagerly anticipating the emergence of the first bee each spring.
Participants in previous contests have ranged from seasoned scientists to enthusiastic backyard naturalists. In last year’s competition, a tie emerged between Michael Kwong of Sacramento and Kaylen Teves of Vallejo. Both captured images of a yellow-faced bumble bee on January 11, 2025, during a monarch butterfly survey at Glen Cove Marina.
The contest not only celebrates Thorp’s contributions but also raises awareness about the critical role of native pollinators. Last year, Nancy Hansen set a record by photographing a black-tailed bumble bee in her Fairfield yard at 10:57 a.m. on January 1, 2024. The inaugural event in 2021 was won by Charlie Casey Nicholson, who spotted a black-tailed bumble bee in the UC Davis Arboretum.
The black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus) is typically the first species to emerge, foraging on early-blooming plants such as manzanita and clover. However, the competition is always filled with surprises as other species may also appear unexpectedly.
As the tradition continues, participants are reminded that even small observations contribute to a greater appreciation of biodiversity. This contest not only honors a remarkable scientist but also encourages everyone to connect with nature as spring approaches.
Mark your calendars and prepare your cameras! The race to find that first bumble bee is on, and it promises to be an exciting start to the New Year.
