




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
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.





Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
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.
Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee can take over other bumblebee nests because it is a social parasite, laying its eggs for host workers to raise.
Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee has no pollen baskets on its legs that helps them avoid the chore of collecting food for others.
Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee can mimic the scent of its host colony because of special chemical signals, helping it avoid detection.
Adult cuckoo bumble bees sip nectar from flowers for energy.
Bombus mixtus
often takes over their nests
Bombus melanopygus
lays eggs in their colonies
Cirsium arvense
drinks nectar for energy
.jpg&width=800)
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
sips nectar from flowers
Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
This trait describes organisms that live on or in a host organism, obtaining nutrients at the host's expense.
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
No aliases listed yet.
Danger
2/5 · Low
Be gentle and calm around bees, and never try to touch or catch them.
20-32 mm
13-21 mm
30-365 days
25 km/h
Adult cuckoo bumble bees sip nectar from flowers for energy.
Grasslands
Foraging
6
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.