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Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee

Bombus insularis

The Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee is a special bee that doesn't make its own honey. Instead, it lays its eggs in the nests of other bumblebees, which is a bit sneaky but helps it survive!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee is typically dark-bodied, often with yellow hairs on its thorax and sometimes on its abdomen, which can also show reddish-brown at the tip. It lacks the shiny, smooth pollen baskets (corbiculae) found on other female bumblebees, and its fur is generally less dense.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyApidaeGenusBombus
Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee
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Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

The cuckoo queen often fights and replaces the original queen of a host nest.

Their babies grow up in a 'borrowed' home, raised by another bumblebee species.

This bee never collects pollen for its young; host bees do all the hard work!

Unlike other female bumblebees, they don't create wax pots to store food.

Special abilities

Ability

Nest Usurper

Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee can take over other bumblebee nests because it is a social parasite, laying its eggs for host workers to raise.

Ability

Pollen-Free Forager

Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee has no pollen baskets on its legs that helps them avoid the chore of collecting food for others.

Ability

Scent Mimicry

Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee can mimic the scent of its host colony because of special chemical signals, helping it avoid detection.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
20-32 mm
Size
13-21 mm
Lifespan
30-365 days
Flight Speed
25 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adult cuckoo bumble bees sip nectar from flowers for energy.

Primary Foods

  • thistle nectar
  • aster nectar
  • clover nectar
  • goldenrod nectar

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

parasitizes

Mixed Bumble Bee

Bombus mixtus

often takes over their nests

parasitizes

Black-tailed Bumble Bee

Bombus melanopygus

lays eggs in their colonies

eats

Canada Thistle

Cirsium arvense

drinks nectar for energy

eats

New England Aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

sips nectar from flowers

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Be gentle and calm around bees, and never try to touch or catch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee's wingspan?

20-32 mm

How big is Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee?

13-21 mm

How long does Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee live?

30-365 days

How fast can Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee fly?

25 km/h

What does Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee eat?

Adult cuckoo bumble bees sip nectar from flowers for energy.

Where is Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee usually found?

Grasslands

How does Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee have?

6

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