Bumble bees are fuzzy insects about ¾ inch to 1 inch long. They make a loud buzzing sound as they hop from flower to flower, and they fly in a slow, lumbering way. They are hairy creatures that live together in colonies, which makes them social insects.
There are more than 250 species of bumble bees. Some well-known ones are the early bumble bee (Bombus pratorum), the new garden bumble bee (Bombus hypnorum), and the western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis). They mostly live in the tropical and temperate regions of the world, and they are very important pollinators.
Some Interesting Facts About Bumble Bees
Fossil Evidence
The earliest known bumble bee fossil comes from the Oligocene period, almost 30 million years ago. That means bumble bees were buzzing around long before humans ever existed!
Honey Bee Vs. Bumble Bee
Bumble bees and honey bees are distant cousins, and people often mix them up. The bumble bee is the slow, gentle one. A honey bee is sleeker and darts quickly from place to place. The bumble bee just lumbers along, taking its time to collect nectar and pollen.
Flower Preference
When bumble bees are just getting started, they tend to prefer violet- and blue-colored flowers for collecting nectar. Once they get more practice, they visit flowers of all different colors.
The Multi-stinger
Unlike a honey bee, a bumble bee does not lose its stinger when it stings. That's because the bumble bee's stinger has no barbs. This means it can sting more than once, though it usually won't unless it feels threatened.
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5 quick questions about these remarkable fuzzy pollinators.
Bumble Bee Nest
If you find a nest or two in your garden, don't worry. Bumble bee nests are small, and bumble bees never swarm. They are completely safe to have nearby.
Unarmed Drones
Not all bumble bees have a stinger. Male bumble bees (called drones) hatch in the middle of summer and have no stinger at all. Only the female worker bees and the queen have stingers.
Nesting
Bumble bees nest in leaf litter or soil. Each spring, the queen lays about 8 to 12 eggs at a time. The worker bees that hatch can fly even in cool weather. That makes them very valuable pollinators, since they get to work earlier in the year than most other insects.
Antennae For Nose
Bumble bees have a pair of antennae that work like a nose, they use them to smell flowers. The antennae also help them sense touch.
A Pair of Legs For Each Activity
All bumble bees have three pairs of legs. The queen and the worker bees are brilliant pollen collectors. Their hind legs have special pollen baskets (called corbiculae) that pack and carry a ball of pollen back to the nest.
The Size Can Tell You A Lot
A honey bee has a slim, wasp-shaped body. A bumble bee, by contrast, is fuzzy and round. There are three sizes in a colony: the queen is the largest, the female worker bee is smaller, and the male drone is the smallest of all. Only the workers and the queen have a stinger.
Crop Preference
Bumble bees pollinate many of the foods we eat. These include apples, cherries, currants, sunflowers, clovers, cotton, celery, fennel, tomatoes, gherkins, and mustard. Some of these crops are pollinated just for their seeds!
Bumble Bees Low on Production
Bumble bees produce only a few grams of honey at a time, just enough to feed their young. This is why you never see bumble bee honey in shops. There simply isn't enough of it to sell.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a bumblebee buzz?
Vibrations of its flight muscles, not just its wing-beats, this also warms the bee before flight.
Can a bumblebee sting more than once?
Yes, unlike honey bees, bumblebees have smooth stingers without barbs, so they can sting multiple times.
Do all bumblebees have stingers?
No, only female bumblebees (queens and workers) have stingers. Male drones are stingerless.
Why is bumblebee honey not sold in shops?
Bumblebees produce only a few grams of honey, just enough to feed their larvae. There is far too little for commercial harvest.
How many species of bumblebee are there?
There are more than 250 species of bumblebee worldwide.
The Humble Bees
Bumble bees are much less aggressive than honey bees. They almost never attack people. If you spot a bumble bee nearby, don't flap your arms. Just stay still. Once it figures out you're not a flower, it will quietly buzz away.
Too Many Bees? No Problem
In the middle of summer, lots of bumble bee eggs hatch at once, so the number of bees can suddenly jump. This can look alarming, but there's no need to worry. The males have no stinger, and bumble bees don't swarm.
Bumble Bees Under Threat
Pesticides used on farmland are a serious threat to bumble bees. When bees visit treated crops, the chemicals can harm them, or even kill them. Habitat loss makes the problem worse.
Open Your Garden To The Bumble Bees
Welcome bumble bees into your garden and they'll pay you back. They'll pollinate your vegetables, fruits, and flowers. These gentle insects are just doing their job (collecting nectar and looking after their young) and they make your garden more beautiful and more productive in the process.
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Fun fact for today!The bumblebee's buzz comes from its muscles, not its wings, and that vibration warms the bee up before takeoff!