# Bumblebee (*Bombus*) Bumblebees are fuzzy and friendly insects that buzz around flowers. They are great at pollinating plants! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Gardens and meadows - **Also known as:** Bumblebee Bat ![Bumblebee](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424327/objects/5461.jpg) ## Appearance The Bumblebee has a distinctly round, fuzzy body, often adorned with bold black and yellow (or sometimes orange/white) stripes. Its short wings and compact shape make it look much stockier and fluffier than slender honeybees. Unlike wasps, it lacks a noticeable 'waist' and its body is covered in dense hairs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Bombus ## Interesting facts - A bumblebee's wings beat about 200 times per second, making that famous buzzing sound! - Bumblebees can see colors, including ultraviolet light, which helps them spot hidden patterns on flowers. - Some queen bumblebees can live for up to a year, starting a new colony all by herself! - They don't make honeycombs; instead, they store nectar in wax pots and pollen in small chambers. ## Special abilities - **Vibrating Pollen Power:** Bumblebee can vibrate its flight muscles to shake pollen loose from flowers because of sonication, which helps them collect more food. - **Cold Weather Flier:** Bumblebee has a special ability to warm up its body, allowing it to fly and forage even when it's too chilly for other bees. - **Navigation Master:** Bumblebee can remember complex flight routes and flower locations because of its excellent spatial memory, finding its way home. - **Long-Tongue Drinker:** Bumblebee has a long, straw-like tongue to reach deep nectar stores in many types of flowers, getting food others can't. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-60 mm - **Size:** 10-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-42 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 400 ## Diet & Feeding They feast on flower nectar for energy and pollen for protein to grow big and strong. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Honeydew (rarely) - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Red Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-clover) (*Trifolium pratense*) — A primary pollinator for this important agricultural crop. - **Pollinates:** Wild Columbine (*Aquilegia canadensis*) — Their long tongues can reach nectar deep within its spurs. - **Parasitizes:** Thick-headed Fly (*Physocephala tibialis*) — Larvae develop inside the bumblebee, killing the host. - **Eaten by:** [American Crow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-crow) (*Corvus brachyrhynchos*) — Crows and other birds may catch them for food. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [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. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [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) - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bumblebee? 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 Bumblebee's wingspan? 25-60 mm ### How big is Bumblebee? 10-25 mm ### How long does Bumblebee live? 14-42 days ### How fast can Bumblebee fly? 15 km/h ### What does Bumblebee eat? They feast on flower nectar for energy and pollen for protein to grow big and strong. ### Where is Bumblebee usually found? Gardens and meadows ### How does Bumblebee hunt? Foraging ## 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: [Bumblebee: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bumblebee)