ExploreInsects

Sonoran Bumble Bee

Bombus sonorus

The Sonoran Bumble Bee is a fuzzy, friendly insect that helps flowers grow by spreading pollen. They are great at buzzing around and are often seen in gardens during the warm months.

Habitat: Desert

Appearance

The Sonoran Bumble Bee is a large, fuzzy insect with a black body, distinguished by bright yellow hairs on its head and upper thorax. It often has a unique rusty-orange or yellow band across its mid-abdomen, making it visually distinct from other dark bees in its desert habitat.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyApidaeGenusBombus
Sonoran Bumble Bee
furry trait badgesocial trait badgeherbivorous trait badgepollinator_magnet trait badge
Sonoran Bumble Bee

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

A queen Sonoran Bumble Bee can lay hundreds of eggs, starting a whole new colony each year.

Bumble bees have tiny, hairy eyes that help them catch and carry more pollen grains!

Some bumble bees create small wax pots inside their nest to store extra nectar for future use.

These bees can navigate using landmarks and even the sun's position, like a tiny GPS!

Special abilities

Ability

Buzz Pollination Power

Sonoran Bumble Bee can shake pollen free from flowers using special wing muscle vibrations, which helps them collect more food for their colony.

Ability

Desert Thermostat

Sonoran Bumble Bee has powerful flight muscles that help them warm up their bodies to fly even when the desert air is cool in the mornings.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
25-50 mm
Size
10-25 mm
Lifespan
20-365 days
Flight Speed
18 km/h
Leg Count
6
Colony Size
200

Diet & Feeding

Sonoran Bumble Bees sip sugary nectar for energy and gather protein-rich pollen from desert flowers.

Primary Foods

  • nectar
  • pollen
  • creosote bush flowers
  • mesquite flowers
  • prickly pear cactus flowers

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

pollinates

Creosote Bush

Larrea tridentata

Visits its bright yellow flowers for nectar and pollen.

pollinates

Honey Mesquite

Prosopis glandulosa

Helps fertilize this important desert tree's blossoms.

eaten by

Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

Sometimes captured by this predatory bird for a meal.

parasitizes

Crithidia Parasite

Crithidia bombi

A gut parasite that can weaken and shorten the bee's life.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

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

What is Sonoran Bumble Bee's wingspan?

25-50 mm

How big is Sonoran Bumble Bee?

10-25 mm

How long does Sonoran Bumble Bee live?

20-365 days

How fast can Sonoran Bumble Bee fly?

18 km/h

What does Sonoran Bumble Bee eat?

Sonoran Bumble Bees sip sugary nectar for energy and gather protein-rich pollen from desert flowers.

Where is Sonoran Bumble Bee usually found?

Desert

How does Sonoran Bumble Bee hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Sonoran Bumble Bee have?

6

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

More Insects