# Vestal Cuckoo Bumble bee (*Bombus vestalis*) The Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee is a special bee that loves to visit flowers. It is known for its unique black and yellow stripes and helps plants grow by spreading pollen. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Vestal Cuckoo Bumble bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bumblebee_January_2008-4.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bumblebee_January_2008-4.jpg) ## Appearance The Vestal Cuckoo Bumble bee has a bright lemon-yellow collar and a striking white or pale yellow tail. Its body is black with yellow stripes. Females often have less dense fur and no pollen baskets, giving them a slightly shinier abdomen. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Bombus ## Interesting facts - Female Vestal Cuckoos never collect pollen; they don't feed their own offspring! - Inside host nests, the cuckoo queen uses chemical signals to assert dominance. - The 'cuckoo' in its name refers to its cunning, like the bird's sneaky nesting! - This bee often targets Buff-tailed Bumblebee nests to raise its young. ## Special abilities - **Scent Mimicry:** Vestal Cuckoo Bumble bees can sneak into host nests by mimicking scents, allowing them to take over without a fight. - **Parasitic Nesting:** Vestal Cuckoo Bumble bees have a clever strategy to lay eggs in another queen's nest, ensuring their young are raised for them. - **Pollen Basket-Free:** Vestal Cuckoo Bumble bees lack pollen baskets; females never gather pollen or food, relying entirely on host bees. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 21-34 mm - **Size:** 14-17 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding They primarily drink nectar from various flowers for energy, relying on other bees to feed their young. - **Primary Foods:** Flower nectar, Thistle nectar, Clover nectar, Knapweed nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** [Buff-tailed Bumble bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/buff-tailed-bumble-bee) (*Bombus terrestris*) — Often invades and takes over this bumble bee's nests. - **Parasitizes:** [White-tailed Bumble bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-bumble-bee) (*Bombus lucorum*) — Sometimes also a host for the cuckoo bumble bee's young. - **Pollinates:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — Visits clover flowers to drink energy-rich nectar. - **Pollinates:** [Creeping Thistle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creeping-thistle) (*Cirsium arvense*) — Feeds on thistle nectar, providing pollination services. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [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 unless they feel scared. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Vestal Cuckoo 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 Vestal Cuckoo Bumble bee's wingspan? 21-34 mm ### How big is Vestal Cuckoo Bumble bee? 14-17 mm ### How long does Vestal Cuckoo Bumble bee live? 30-365 days ### How fast can Vestal Cuckoo Bumble bee fly? 15 km/h ### What does Vestal Cuckoo Bumble bee eat? They primarily drink nectar from various flowers for energy, relying on other bees to feed their young. ### Where is Vestal Cuckoo Bumble bee usually found? Grasslands ### How does Vestal Cuckoo 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: [Vestal Cuckoo Bumble bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/vestal-cuckoo-bumble-bee)