Bumblebee

Natural Habitat

Found in various habitats including gardens, meadows, woodlands, agricultural fields, and urban areas wherever flowering plants are present. They prefer areas with a continuous supply of diverse flowers throughout their active season.

Diet & Feeding

Nectar (for energy) and pollen (for protein) from a wide variety of flowering plants.

Behavior Patterns

Bumblebees are social insects that live in colonies, typically nesting underground in abandoned rodent burrows or dense grass. They are active during the day, foraging for nectar and pollen. Queens emerge in spring, establish a new nest, and lay eggs. Workers emerge later and take over foraging duties, while the queen focuses on egg-laying. In late summer/fall, new queens and males are produced, mate, and only the new queens overwinter. They are known for 'buzz pollination' or sonication, where they rapidly vibrate their flight muscles to release pollen from flowers that hold it tightly.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include stings, especially if a nest is disturbed or the bee feels threatened. However, bumblebee stings are generally less aggressive than those of some other social bees or wasps and are typically only a concern for individuals with severe allergies. The primary benefit of bumblebees is their crucial role as pollinators for a vast range of wildflowers and cultivated crops (e.g., tomatoes, blueberries, cranberries, clover), contributing significantly to agriculture and ecosystem health. Their ability to perform buzz pollination makes them essential for certain crops.

Identified on: 8/16/2025