Bug Identifier
Bumblebee
Community identification

Bumblebee

Bombus species

Order & Family
Hymenoptera; Apidae
Size
Workers are typically about 8–20 mm long; queens are larger.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Gardens, meadows, woodlands, and other flower-rich areas; nests are often underground or in sheltered cavities.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on nectar and collect pollen, which they use to provision their larvae.

Behavior Patterns

Hairy, robust social bees that live in annual colonies; usually forage during the day and can fly in cool weather.

Risks & Benefits

Important pollinators of wild plants and crops. They can sting if threatened, but are generally not aggressive.