Bumble Bee

(Genus Bombus)

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Overview

Biology

Social Structure: Bumble bees are social insects and live in colonies, much like honeybees. A typical colony consists of a single queen, worker bees, and male bees (drones).
Life Cycle: The colony cycle begins in the spring when a queen emerges from hibernation and establishes a nest. She lays eggs, which develop into workers. Later in the season, new queens and males are produced for mating.
Pollination: Bumble bees are important pollinators of a wide variety of plants, including many fruits and vegetables. They collect nectar and pollen to feed themselves and their offspring, inadvertently transferring pollen from one flower to another as they forage.

Food

Bumble bees are nectar- and pollen-feeding insects. They visit a wide variety of flowers to collect nectar, which they use as a source of energy, and pollen, which is a source of protein for their developing larvae.
As they forage for nectar, they transfer pollen from flower to flower, facilitating the pollination of many plant species.
Bumble bees are especially important pollinators for crops such as tomatoes, peppers, blueberries, and certain types of squash.

Bumble bees are large, fuzzy insects that belong to the genus Bombus, and they are important pollinators of various plants, including many crops. They are known for their distinctive appearance and behavior, and they play a vital role in ecosystems and agriculture.

Description

Size: Bumble bees are larger and more robust than honeybees, with the queen being the largest in the colony, reaching lengths of up to 2.5 cm (1 inch), while workers are slightly smaller.
Coloration: Bumble bees are typically covered in dense, hairy setae that give them a fuzzy appearance. They exhibit a wide range of colors and patterns, including black, yellow, orange, and white markings, but the exact coloring can vary depending on the species.

Habitat

Bumble bees are found in a range of habitats, from meadows and fields to gardens and forests. They are well adapted to a diverse range of environments and can be found in many parts of the world.
Nests: Bumble bee nests are typically constructed underground, often in abandoned rodent burrows, or in grass tussocks. Some species may also nest above ground in sheltered locations.

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