bumblebee

Common Eastern Bumblebee

When people hear bumblebee, their first reaction is fear since their sting can be painful and unpleasant, and some people have an allergic reaction to their sting. Even though they can sting, they are one of the most beneficial animals in nature, improving our lives daily! Bumblebees have fur all over their bodies; these little hairs collect and trap pollen, which the bees carry from one plant to another. Little black hairs cover the head, abdomen, and legs. The thorax is yellow. Bees are pollinators, moving from plant to plant while searching for protein-rich nectar. The Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) pollinates flowers and numerous fruit and vegetable crops. Bees form the foundation of the food chain for other species, including humans.
The Common Eastern Bumblebee is found throughout the east coast from Maine to Florida and west through Ohio. They fly near gardens, farms, and backyards in spring and summer. Their nests are located in woodlands and fields. Bumblebees are important food sources for other animals, such as birds, spiders, wasps, and small mammals.
Eastern Common Bumblebees are social insects living in colonies. Bumblebees have annual nests that can have about 300 to 500 individuals! Newly mated queen bees hibernate over winter, then emerge in early spring to search for a nest site. Worker bees develop first, followed by males and new queens at the end of summer. Worker bees, males, and the old queen die in the fall. Due to habitat loss, invasive species, parasites, and pesticides, pollinators worldwide are in decline.
Cool Fact! Bees with stingers are all females! They are the workers and queens. Males cannot sting and are called drones.
Another Cool Fact! Unfertilized eggs develop into males, and fertilized eggs develop into females.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon
Author: Destiny Alvarez – Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Oregon
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American Bumble Bee

American bumble bees (Bombus pensylvanicus) have been a common bee throughout the entire U.S., but the population has drastically declined within the past several decades. Its home range has also declined from widespread throughout North America to mostly limited to the southern United States. The primary suspect of this decline is a disease from imported European bumblebees. These imported bees were used to pollinate tomato plants.
American bumble bees nest on the surface of the ground. The queens overwinter and collect food for their first brood. These become workers and support the queen the next season. After she produces new queens, she dies, and those queens will spread to establish their colonies.
You can help American bumble bees by planting native plants such as goldenrod, St. John’s wort, mistflower, and ironweed.
Photo Credit: Ileana Rodriguez
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Southern Plains Bumblebee

Southern Plains Bumblebees, Bombus fraternus, are found from New Jersey south to Central Florida and from the eastern coast to the Rocky Mountains. Females are typically smaller than males with the exception of the queen. Males can be distinguished by the two bands across the abdomen. These bees are active from spring through fall. They feed on a variety of native flowers including goldenrod, blazing stars, milkweed, and flowers within the Asteraceae family.
Southern Plains Bumblebees are endangered. The greatest threat to this species is declining habitat. By adding native flowering plants to your landscape, you can help create a habitat for this declining species.
Photo credit: Aymee Laurain
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