# Tree Bumble Bee (*Bombus hypnorum*) The Tree Bumble Bee is a fuzzy little insect that loves to buzz around flowers. They are great at helping plants grow by spreading pollen while they collect nectar. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Fuzzy Bumble Bee, Tree Bee ![Tree Bumble Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bombus_hypnorum_male_-_side_%28aka%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bombus_hypnorum_male_-_side_%28aka%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Tree Bumble Bee has a distinctive ginger-brown furry thorax, a black abdomen, and a pure white tail. Its vibrant colours make it easily recognizable among other bumblebees, appearing quite robust and fuzzy. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Bombus ## Interesting facts - Male Tree Bumble Bees create 'mating circuits' to find queens. - The queen is much bigger than her workers, up to 16mm! - They store sweet nectar in tiny wax pots inside their nests. - Tree Bumble Bees love nesting in abandoned bird boxes! ## Special abilities - **Vibration Power:** Tree Bumble Bee can 'buzz-pollinate' by vibrating its wing muscles, which helps it shake loose and collect pollen from specific flowers. - **Warmth Cloak:** Tree Bumble Bee has a thick, furry coat that helps it stay warm, allowing it to fly and forage even on cooler days. - **Nest Guardians:** Tree Bumble Bee can aggressively defend its nest with strong stings, protecting its home and colony from perceived threats. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 15-32 mm - **Size:** 10-16 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 400 ## Diet & Feeding They sip nectar for energy and collect pollen for their young. - **Primary Foods:** Acer pseudoplatanus, Crataegus monogyna, Trifolium pratense, Digitalis purpurea - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Foxglove](https://www.snappit.app/explore/foxglove) (*Digitalis purpurea*) — Vital for the reproduction of this tall, bell-shaped flower. - **Pollinates:** [Red Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-clover) (*Trifolium pratense*) — Helps this common field flower produce seeds. - **Eaten by:** [European Bee-eater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-bee-eater) (*Merops apiaster*) — A colorful bird that specializes in catching bees. ## 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. - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [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 Bumble bees are usually friendly, but it's best to stay calm and not swat at them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tree 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 Tree Bumble Bee's wingspan? 15-32 mm ### How big is Tree Bumble Bee? 10-16 mm ### How long does Tree Bumble Bee live? 20-365 days ### How fast can Tree Bumble Bee fly? 20 km/h ### What does Tree Bumble Bee eat? They sip nectar for energy and collect pollen for their young. ### Where is Tree Bumble Bee usually found? Forests ### How does Tree Bumble Bee hunt? Foraging ## 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: [Tree Bumble Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-bumble-bee)