# Northern Amber Bumble Bee (*Bombus borealis*) The Northern Amber Bumble Bee is a fuzzy, yellow-and-black bee that loves to visit flowers. They are important pollinators, helping plants grow by spreading pollen as they collect nectar. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Northern Amber Bumble Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bombus_borealis_usgs.jpg&width=800) Photo: USGS, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bombus_borealis_usgs.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Amber Bumble Bee has a striking appearance with a mostly ginger-orange, densely furred thorax and a black abdomen, often with a yellow-orange band at the front. Its robust, fuzzy body differentiates it from many slimmer, less hairy bee species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Bombus ## Interesting facts - A single queen bee can lay hundreds of eggs during her long life, sometimes over 1000! - Bumble bees can 'smell' flowers from over a kilometer away, guiding them to tasty nectar! - Even though they sting, male bumble bees are harmless because they don't have stingers! - They create small, wax pots inside their nests to store honey, like tiny pantries! ## Special abilities - **Chilly Forager:** Northern Amber Bumble Bee has a dense, insulating fur coat and can shiver to warm its body, helping them forage for nectar and pollen in cooler climates. - **Solo Colony Starter:** Northern Amber Bumble Bee's queen can establish an entire new colony by herself each spring, which helps ensure the survival of her species. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 15-35 mm - **Size:** 10-23 mm - **Lifespan:** 21-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 18 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 200 ## Diet & Feeding This bee sips sugary nectar for energy and collects protein-rich pollen to feed its growing babies. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Epilobium angustifolium nectar, Rhododendron groenlandicum nectar, Vaccinium myrtillus nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Fireweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fireweed) (*Epilobium angustifolium*) — Vital for its nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Bilberry (*Vaccinium myrtillus*) — An important food source in its northern range. - **Pollinates:** Tall Lungwort (*Mertensia paniculata*) — Favored plant for both nectar and pollen collection. - **Eaten by:** Northern Shrike (*Lanius borealis*) — These predatory birds may sometimes hunt large insects. - **Parasitizes:** High Arctic Bumble Bee (*Bombus hyperboreus*) — The Cuckoo Bumble Bee sometimes takes over 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. - [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 calm around bees; they usually won't sting if you don't bother them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Amber 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 Northern Amber Bumble Bee's wingspan? 15-35 mm ### How big is Northern Amber Bumble Bee? 10-23 mm ### How long does Northern Amber Bumble Bee live? 21-365 days ### How fast can Northern Amber Bumble Bee fly? 18 km/h ### What does Northern Amber Bumble Bee eat? This bee sips sugary nectar for energy and collects protein-rich pollen to feed its growing babies. ### Where is Northern Amber Bumble Bee usually found? Grasslands ### How does Northern Amber Bumble Bee hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Canoe Landing Prairie State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canoe-landing-prairie-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Great Wass Island Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-wass-island-preserve) — Maine, US · Nature Reserve - [International Peace Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/international-peace-garden) — US · Botanical Garden - [Tom Davies Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tom-davies-square) — Ontario, CA · Neighborhood [View all places to see Northern Amber Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-amber-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: [Northern Amber Bumble Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-amber-bumble-bee)