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How We WorkGreenway Quest 2026
Great Rivers Greenway and the Saint Louis Zoo have teamed up for the fifth annual Greenway Quest Scavenger Hunt! This year we’ve hidden hundreds of hand painted rocks that look like four different species of native bees found along the greenways: the American bumblebee, brown-belted bumblebee, two-spotted bumblebee, and a couple of the endangered rusty patched bumblebee.
Look for rocks hidden across all 140 miles of greenways in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County. Find a greenway near you here!
- You can find them along the edges of greenways or at trailheads, never far away from the path and never on private property.
- There are no rocks hidden at the Saint Louis Zoo.
- If you find more than one bee rock on your adventure, please only take one so other people can join in the fun, too!
- Be sure to log your rock in the form below to be eligible to win prizes that include Zoo Adventure Passes and Greenway Goodies!
Wondering Which Bee is Featured on Your Rock?
1-100: American Bumblebee
101-200: Brown Belted Bumblebee
201-300: Two-Spotted Bumblebee
301-302: The endangered Rusty Patch Bumblebee (only two in the whole bunch!)
Click their images below to learn more!
American Bumble Bee
- Look for a classic, large bumblebee with a mostly black abdomen (rear body segment) that features a striking yellow band right across the middle. Unlike many other bees, its head and face are mostly solid black.
- This bee is a true icon of North American fields, but it needs our help. Over the last few decades, its population has declined significantly due to habitat loss. Spotting one is a special treat and a reminder of why planting native wildflowers in our yards is so important!
- Bombus pensylvanicus
Two-Spotted Bumblebee
- True to its name, if you look closely at the top of its abdomen, you’ll see two distinct patches of yellow hair that often look like a tiny, stylized “W” or two little thumbprints side-by-side.
- These bees are the early birds of the insect world! They are typically the very first bumblebees to emerge in the spring, brave enough to fly in cooler weather to get a head start on gathering nectar from early-blooming trees and flowers.
- Bombus bimaculatus
Brown-Belted Bumblebee
- This bee has a crescent-shaped band of brown or grayish-tan hair right along the upper edge of its abdomen, sandwiched between sections of yellow and black.
- If you have a garden, this is likely the bee you will see the most. Brown-belted bumblebees are highly adaptable, incredibly resilient, and love open spaces like city parks, residential gardens, and agricultural fields.
- Bombus griseocollis
The VIP Guest: Rusty Patched Bumble Bee
- This one is a little tricky! Look very closely at the bee’s abdomen (the rear section). Female workers and males have a distinct, crescent-shaped patch of rusty-red or orange hair right in the middle of their second segment. A great trick to make sure it’s not a common brown-belted bumblebee is to look at the border: the rusty patch on this bee is entirely surrounded by a “sea of yellow” hair, rather than being bordered by black.
- This bee is an absolute VIP of the insect world! In 2017, it became the very first bumblebee species in the United States to be officially listed as federally endangered. Once common across the East Coast and Midwest, they have disappeared from nearly 90% of their historical range. Because they are so rare and legally protected, please do not try to handle or catch them! Instead, if you think you spot one, use your phone to snap a clear photo and report it immediately to Bumble Bee Watch—your snapshot could help scientists track and protect a critical surviving colony!
- Bombus affinis
Want to Learn More?
Expand the sections below for the latest buzz!
UN-BEE-LIEVABLE BUT TRUE: Did you know?
- One out of every three bites of food you eat depends on pollinators! Bees, insects, birds, and small mammals pollinate more than 90% of the planet’s flowering plants and one-third of the human diet.
- While most of us are familiar with the European honeybee, Missouri is actually home to more than 450 species of native bees!
- Bumblebees are some of the most important pollinators to our ecosystems and agriculture. They use a fascinating technique called buzz pollination—vibrating their entire bodies at a high frequency to release stubborn pollen—to help grow everything from native wildflowers to the tomatoes on your dinner plate!
- Native bumblebees are large and fuzzy, with distinctive black and yellow (and sometimes orange) banded patterns. By carefully observing these specific color patterns and hairiness, entomologists (insect scientists) can identify individual species.
BEE A FRIEND: How Can You Help the Bees?
Historically, Missouri has been home to at least 11 native bumblebee species. Today, there are eight still considered regular inhabitants. The others are becoming increasingly rare, and a few are recognized as species of conservation concern in Missouri or are federally endangered.
- Plant a garden with native plants! Check out these helpful resources from the Saint Louis Zoo.
- Participate in a Community Science Project such as Bee Spotter or Bumble Bee Watch by collecting and contributing information about the bees you see, you can help protect their habitats and conservation strategies.
- Learn more about how the Saint Louis Zoo is working to protect native bees here.
Bee Log