# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Hunt's Bumble Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bombus_huntii%252C_M%252C_side%252C_Pennington_County%252C_SD_2012-11-14-15.41.21_ZS_PMax_%288254457543%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory from Beltsville, USA, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bombus_huntii%252C_M%252C_side%252C_Pennington_County%252C_SD_2012-11-14-15.41.21_ZS_PMax_%288254457543%29.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Bombus ## 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 - **Vibration Power:** Hunt's Bumble Bee can vibrate its flight muscles without flying, which helps them shake pollen out of specific flowers. - **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. - **Long-Tongued Feeder:** Hunt's Bumble Bee has a long tongue that helps them reach nectar deep inside tubular flowers other bees can't. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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 - [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:** 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? 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 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 ## Where to spot - [The Living Planet Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-living-planet-aquarium) — Utah, US · Zoo - [Cheesman Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cheesman-park) — Colorado, US · Park - [Cheyenne Botanic Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cheyenne-botanic-gardens) — Wyoming, US · Botanical Garden - [Denver Botanic Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/denver-botanic-gardens) — Colorado, US · Botanical Garden - [John A. Finch Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/john-a-finch-arboretum) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Manito Park and Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/manito-park-and-botanical-gardens) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Hunt's Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hunts-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: [Hunt's Bumble Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hunts-bumble-bee)