# 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! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 110 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Brown Bumble Bee ![Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bombus_griseocollis.jpg&width=800) Photo: USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bombus_griseocollis.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Bombus ## 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 - **Pollen Shaker:** Brown-belted Bumble Bee can buzz rapidly to shake pollen from flowers, helping them gather more food. - **Internal Heater:** Brown-belted Bumble Bee can shiver its muscles to warm up, allowing it to fly in cooler weather than many other insects. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) — Feeds on nectar and pollen from milkweed flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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 - [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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [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. - [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 Bumble bees are usually not aggressive, but it's best to stay calm and not swat at them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Brown-belted Bumble Bee? Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Black Hawk State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-hawk-state-historic-site) — Illinois, US · Park - [Broadway-Armory Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-armory-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Brookside Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brookside-reservation) — Ohio, US · Park - [Capen-Clark Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capen-clark-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District [View all places to see Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/brown-belted-bumble-bee) ## 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*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) - [Queen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/queen) (*Danaus gilippus*) --- Source: [Brown-belted Bumble Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee)