ExploreInsects

Black-and-gold Bumble Bee

Bombus auricomus

The Black-and-gold Bumble Bee is a fuzzy insect that loves to visit flowers! They help plants grow by spreading pollen while they collect nectar to eat.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Black-and-gold Bumble Bee is a large, fuzzy insect with a distinctive pattern of black and deep golden-yellow bands. Its head is mostly black, followed by a wide golden-yellow band on its thorax. The abdomen is primarily black, often with a final segment of golden-yellow.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyApidaeGenusBombus
Black-and-gold Bumble Bee
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Black-and-gold Bumble Bee

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Bumble bees are very important for pollinating crops like blueberries and tomatoes.

Bumble bees create small wax pots to store enough honey and pollen for their growing colony.

Only queen bumble bees survive winter, sleeping underground to start a new colony in spring!

Their wings beat so fast, over 200 times per second, they make their distinctive buzzing sound!

Special abilities

Ability

Buzz Pollination Power

Black-and-gold Bumble Bee can vibrate flowers rapidly (buzz pollination) because of powerful wing muscles that helps them shake out hidden pollen.

Ability

Cold Weather Flyer

Black-and-gold Bumble Bee has a fuzzy body and ability to shiver that helps them warm up and fly in cooler temperatures than many other bees.

Ability

Nectar Sipper

Black-and-gold Bumble Bee has a long, straw-like tongue (proboscis) that helps them reach sweet nectar deep inside tubular flowers.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
25-45 mm
Size
10-23 mm
Lifespan
14-365 days
Flight Speed
20 km/h
Leg Count
6
Colony Size
50-400

Diet & Feeding

They drink sweet nectar for energy and collect pollen to feed their growing colony of baby bees.

Primary Foods

  • Nectar
  • Pollen
  • Clover flowers
  • Thistle flowers
  • Sunflower flowers

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

pollinates

Red Clover

Trifolium pratense

helps plant make seeds

pollinates

Common Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

gathers nectar and pollen

parasitizes

Ashton's Cuckoo Bumble Bee

Bombus ashtoni

takes over their nests

eaten by

Goldenrod Crab Spider

Misumena vatia

ambushes bees on flowers

Traits

Also known as

Gold-banded Bumble Bee

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Bumble bees are usually friendly, but it's best to stay calm and not swat at them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Black-and-gold Bumble Bee's wingspan?

25-45 mm

How big is Black-and-gold Bumble Bee?

10-23 mm

How long does Black-and-gold Bumble Bee live?

14-365 days

How fast can Black-and-gold Bumble Bee fly?

20 km/h

What does Black-and-gold Bumble Bee eat?

They drink sweet nectar for energy and collect pollen to feed their growing colony of baby bees.

Where is Black-and-gold Bumble Bee usually found?

Grasslands

How does Black-and-gold Bumble Bee hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Black-and-gold Bumble Bee have?

6

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Where to spot

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