ExploreInsects

Brown-belted Bumble Bee

Bombus griseocollis

The Brown-belted Bumble Bee is a fuzzy little insect that helps flowers grow by spreading pollen. They are friendly and love to buzz around gardens and fields, making them important for nature!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Brown-belted Bumble Bee has a mostly black body with a distinctive brown-orange band across its second abdominal segment. Its thorax is typically covered in yellow hairs, and its head is mostly black. This coloration helps distinguish it from other bumble bee species.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyApidaeGenusBombus
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
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Brown-belted Bumble Bee

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Wow! A queen bumble bee can live for up to a year, but her workers only live a few weeks.

Wow! Bumble bees build their nests underground, often in old rodent burrows, keeping them safe!

Wow! Some bumble bees 'rob' nectar by biting holes in flowers that are too deep to reach.

Wow! These bees can learn and remember which flowers are the best sources of nectar and pollen.

Special abilities

Ability

Pollen Shaker

Brown-belted Bumble Bee can buzz rapidly to shake pollen from flowers, helping them gather more food.

Ability

Internal Heater

Brown-belted Bumble Bee can shiver its muscles to warm up, allowing it to fly in cooler weather than many other insects.

Ability

Nectar Tank

Brown-belted Bumble Bee has a special stomach to store nectar, letting it carry sweet treats back to its colony.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
20-35 mm
Size
9-18 mm
Lifespan
20-45 days
Flight Speed
18 km/h
Leg Count
6
Colony Size
200

Diet & Feeding

These busy bees sip sweet nectar for energy and gather pollen for protein!

Primary Foods

  • nectar
  • pollen
  • clover
  • thistle
  • goldenrod

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

pollinates

Canada Thistle

Cirsium arvense

Visits thistle flowers, helping them make seeds.

pollinates

Common Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Feeds on nectar and pollen from milkweed flowers.

eaten by

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Adult bees can be caught and eaten by these birds.

parasitizes

Conopid Fly

Physocephala tibialis

Flies lay eggs inside bees, and larvae eat them from within.

Traits

Also known as

Brown Bumble Bee

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Brown-belted Bumble Bee's wingspan?

20-35 mm

How big is Brown-belted Bumble Bee?

9-18 mm

How long does Brown-belted Bumble Bee live?

20-45 days

How fast can Brown-belted Bumble Bee fly?

18 km/h

What does Brown-belted Bumble Bee eat?

These busy bees sip sweet nectar for energy and gather pollen for protein!

Where is Brown-belted Bumble Bee usually found?

Grasslands

How does Brown-belted Bumble Bee hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Brown-belted Bumble Bee have?

6

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Where to spot

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