# Bombus Bombus, or bumblebees, are fuzzy insects that help flowers grow by spreading pollen. They are friendly and love to buzz around gardens, making them important for nature! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Gardens ![Bombus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bombus_terrestris.jpg&width=800) Photo: Marco Almbauer, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bombus_terrestris.jpg) ## Appearance The Bombus is a robust, fuzzy bee, typically adorned in bold bands of black and yellow, though some species may include orange or white markings. Its thick, hairy body and often iridescent wings differentiate it from smoother, less stocky bees like honeybees. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Bombus ## Interesting facts - A queen bumblebee starts her entire colony all by herself in the spring! - Bumblebees can carry up to 70% of their body weight in nectar and pollen. - Some bumblebee queens can hibernate alone underground for over half a year! - Unlike honeybees, bumblebees have smooth stingers and can sting multiple times. ## Special abilities - **Buzz Pollination Power:** Bombus can vibrate its flight muscles to shake pollen loose from flowers that other bees can't access, helping them collect more food. - **Internal Heater:** Bombus can shiver its flight muscles without moving its wings, which helps them warm up and fly in cooler temperatures. - **Long Tongue Reach:** Bombus has a long, retractable proboscis that helps them reach nectar deep inside tubular flowers, accessing diverse food sources. - **Excellent Navigators:** Bombus can learn and remember complex routes to flower patches over long distances, helping them efficiently find food. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 20-40 mm - **Size:** 8-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 50-500 ## Diet & Feeding Bumblebees are plant eaters that mostly drink sweet nectar for energy and collect pollen for protein. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Honeydew, Floral oils - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Red Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-clover) (*Trifolium pratense*) — Crucial for seed production in these agricultural plants. - **Pollinates:** Highbush Blueberry (*Vaccinium corymbosum*) — Their 'buzz pollination' helps increase fruit yield. - **Eaten by:** [Red-backed Shrike](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-backed-shrike) (*Lanius collurio*) — A common predator, especially of foraging workers. - **Parasitizes:** Gypsy Cuckoo Bumblebee (*Bombus bohemicus*) — Lays eggs in Bombus nests, its larvae are fed by hosts. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Bumblebees are usually friendly, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bombus? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Bombus's wingspan? 20-40 mm ### How big is Bombus? 8-25 mm ### How long does Bombus live? 14-365 days ### How fast can Bombus fly? 20 km/h ### What does Bombus eat? Bumblebees are plant eaters that mostly drink sweet nectar for energy and collect pollen for protein. ### Where is Bombus usually found? Gardens ### How does Bombus hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Bürgerpark Pankow (Berlin)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burgerpark-pankow-berlin) — Berlin, DE · Park - [Sam Smith Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sam-smith-park) — Washington, US · Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Bombus: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bombus)