ExploreInsects

Hunt's Bumble Bee

Bombus huntii

Hunt's Bumble Bee is a fuzzy little bee that loves to buzz around flowers. They are important helpers in nature because they help plants grow by spreading pollen.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Hunt's Bumble Bee is a medium-sized bee distinguished by its bright lemon-yellow and black stripes. It features a prominent rusty or orange-red band across its abdomen, often with a yellow patch towards the tail. Its face is mostly black with some yellow hairs.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyApidaeGenusBombus
Hunt's Bumble Bee
furry trait badgesocial trait badgegrassland trait badgeherbivorous trait badge
Hunt's Bumble Bee

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

6

Interesting facts

Wow! Hunt's Bumble Bees often make their nests underground in abandoned rodent burrows!

Wow! The queen bee can live for about a year, but her worker daughters only live a few weeks!

Wow! They are super important for pollinating crops like blueberries and cranberries!

Wow! Worker bees have special 'pollen baskets' on their legs to carry food back to the hive!

Special abilities

Ability

Vibration Power

Hunt's Bumble Bee can vibrate its flight muscles without flying, which helps them shake pollen out of specific flowers.

Ability

Cold Weather Flight

Hunt's Bumble Bee can shiver its body to warm up, allowing it to fly and forage even on cool or cloudy days.

Ability

Long-Tongued Feeder

Hunt's Bumble Bee has a long tongue that helps them reach nectar deep inside tubular flowers other bees can't.

Ability

Home Finder

Hunt's Bumble Bee can use the sun's position and polarized light to navigate back to its underground nest.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
25-35 mm
Size
9-20 mm
Lifespan
14-365 days
Flight Speed
15 km/h
Leg Count
6
Colony Size
200

Diet & Feeding

They drink sugary nectar for energy and gather protein-rich pollen to feed their growing bee family.

Primary Foods

  • nectar
  • pollen
  • sunflower nectar
  • clover nectar
  • thistle pollen

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

pollinates

Common Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers.

pollinates

Canada Thistle

Cirsium arvense

An important pollinator for this widespread plant.

pollinates

Red Clover

Trifolium pratense

Feeds on nectar and collects pollen.

parasitizes

Thick-headed Fly

Physocephala tibialis

Lays eggs on the bee, and larvae consume it.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Be gentle and quiet around bees; they are friendly but can sting if scared.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Hunt's Bumble Bee?

The easiest way to identify Hunt's Bumble Bee is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

What is Hunt's Bumble Bee's wingspan?

25-35 mm

How big is Hunt's Bumble Bee?

9-20 mm

How long does Hunt's Bumble Bee live?

14-365 days

How fast can Hunt's Bumble Bee fly?

15 km/h

What does Hunt's Bumble Bee eat?

They drink sugary nectar for energy and gather protein-rich pollen to feed their growing bee family.

Where is Hunt's Bumble Bee usually found?

Grasslands

How does Hunt's Bumble Bee hunt?

Foraging

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