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Buff-tailed Bumble Bee

Bombus terrestris

The Buff-tailed Bumble Bee is a fuzzy, friendly insect that helps flowers grow by spreading pollen. They are often seen buzzing around gardens and fields, making them important for nature!

Habitat: Gardens

Appearance

The Buff-tailed Bumble Bee has a distinctive black body with two bright yellow bands across its thorax and one on the abdomen. Its most striking feature is a prominent buff or orangey-brown tail, which sets it apart from similar black and yellow bumblebees.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyApidaeGenusBombus
Buff-tailed Bumble Bee
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Buff-tailed Bumble Bee

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

A queen bumblebee can live for a whole year, hibernating alone underground!

Bumble bees can fly to high altitudes, even over mountains like the Himalayas!

Their wings beat super fast, over 200 times per second to keep them flying!

They have five eyes – two large compound eyes and three tiny ones on top!

Special abilities

Ability

Vibrating Pollen Shake

Buff-tailed Bumble Bees can vibrate their flight muscles to release pollen from flowers, which helps them collect more food.

Ability

Internal Heater

Buff-tailed Bumble Bees can shiver their flight muscles to warm up, allowing them to fly in cooler weather than many other insects.

Ability

Night Vision (UV Light Perception)

Buff-tailed Bumble Bees can see ultraviolet light, which helps them spot hidden patterns on flowers to guide them to nectar.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
38-46 mm
Size
11-22 mm
Lifespan
14-365 days
Flight Speed
15 km/h
Leg Count
6
Colony Size
400

Diet & Feeding

They sip sweet nectar from flowers for energy and collect pollen for protein to feed their babies.

Primary Foods

  • nectar
  • pollen

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

Buff-tailed 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 Buff-tailed Bumble Bee's wingspan?

38-46 mm

How big is Buff-tailed Bumble Bee?

11-22 mm

How long does Buff-tailed Bumble Bee live?

14-365 days

How fast can Buff-tailed Bumble Bee fly?

15 km/h

What does Buff-tailed Bumble Bee eat?

They sip sweet nectar from flowers for energy and collect pollen for protein to feed their babies.

Where is Buff-tailed Bumble Bee usually found?

Gardens

How does Buff-tailed Bumble Bee hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Buff-tailed Bumble Bee have?

6

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