Bug Identifier
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Community identification

Common Eastern Bumble Bee

Bombus impatiens

Order & Family
Hymenoptera: Apidae
Size
Workers: 8-17 mm, Queens: 17-23 mm
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Fields, gardens, parks, and suburban areas throughout Eastern North America

Diet & Feeding

Generalist forager; feeds on nectar and pollen from a wide variety of flowering plants and clovers

Behavior Patterns

Eusocial insects that nest underground; active from early spring to late fall; crucial for buzz pollination

Risks & Benefits

Extremely beneficial as a primary pollinator for crops and wildflowers; rarely aggressive but can sting if the nest is threatened