# California Bumble Bee (*Bombus californicus*) The California Bumble Bee is a fuzzy little insect that loves to buzz around flowers. They are important for helping plants grow by spreading pollen. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Urban areas, Grasslands, Gardens ![California Bumble Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bumblebee_alstroemeria_pollination.jpg&width=800) Photo: Dicentra, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bumblebee_alstroemeria_pollination.jpg) ## Appearance The California Bumble Bee is a medium-sized, fuzzy insect, easily recognized by its mostly black body with a distinct bright yellow band on its thorax. Many also have an orange-red patch near the tip of their abdomen, setting them apart from other black and yellow bees. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Bombus ## Interesting facts - Bumble bees can fly in cooler weather, thanks to their furry, insulated bodies! - Bumble bees visit thousands of flowers a day, making them super pollinators! - Queens can live for a whole year, laying hundreds of eggs to start new colonies! - They often sleep upside down, clinging to flowers overnight to stay safe. ## Special abilities - **Buzz Pollination:** California Bumble Bees can vibrate their flight muscles to shake pollen loose from flowers that other bees can't access. - **Internal Heater:** California Bumble Bees can shiver their muscles to warm up, helping them forage for nectar even on chilly mornings. - **Navigation Experts:** California Bumble Bees have an amazing memory that helps them find the best flowers and their way back to the nest. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-40 mm - **Size:** 12-22 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 400 ## Diet & Feeding California Bumble Bees drink sugary nectar for energy and eat protein-rich pollen for growth. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Wildflower nectar, Clover pollen, Sunflower nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Canada Goldenrod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canada-goldenrod) (*Solidago canadensis*) — Provides vital nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** [California Buckwheat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-buckwheat) (*Eriogonum fasciculatum*) — A key nectar source in California. - **Parasitizes:** Cuckoo Bumble Bee (*Bombus flavidus*) — Lays eggs in their nests. ## 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. - [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:** 2/5 · Low Bumble bees are usually friendly, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California 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 California Bumble Bee's wingspan? 25-40 mm ### How big is California Bumble Bee? 12-22 mm ### How long does California Bumble Bee live? 20-365 days ### How fast can California Bumble Bee fly? 20 km/h ### What does California Bumble Bee eat? California Bumble Bees drink sugary nectar for energy and eat protein-rich pollen for growth. ### Where is California Bumble Bee usually found? Urban areas, Grasslands, Gardens ### How does California Bumble Bee hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Sonoma Plaza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sonoma-plaza) — California, US · Park - [Kishenehn Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kishenehn-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/los-angeles-county-arboretum-and-botanic-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Los Encinos State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/los-encinos-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park - [Old Auburn Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-auburn-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Oregon Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oregon-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see California Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/california-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*) - [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: [California Bumble Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-bumble-bee)