# Yellow-banded Bumble Bee (*Bombus terricola*) The Yellow-banded Bumble Bee is a fuzzy insect that loves to buzz around flowers. They are important helpers in nature because they pollinate plants, helping them grow and produce fruits. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Yellow Bumble Bee ![Yellow-banded Bumble Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bombus_terricola.jpg&width=800) Photo: USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bombus_terricola.jpg) ## Appearance The Yellow-banded Bumble Bee has a mostly black body with two distinct bright yellow bands across its fuzzy thorax. It also features a clear yellow band on the first segment of its abdomen, which is otherwise black. Its tail can appear reddish-brown or orange. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Bombus ## Interesting facts - A bumble bee's wings beat super fast, up to 200 times every single second! - Bumble bee queens can live for an entire year, hibernating alone through the winter! - Bumble bees mix pollen and nectar into "bee bread" to feed their growing young! - Despite their size, bumble bees can hover and fly straight up like tiny helicopters! ## Special abilities - **Pollen Shaker:** Yellow-banded Bumble Bees can buzz pollinate flowers, shaking pollen loose to gather more efficiently for their colony. - **Cold Weather Navigator:** Yellow-banded Bumble Bees can generate their own body heat, which helps them fly and forage even on cool days. - **Deep Drinker:** Yellow-banded Bumble Bees have a medium-long tongue that helps them reach nectar deep inside many different kinds of flowers. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-35 mm - **Size:** 10-16 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 300 ## Diet & Feeding They drink nectar from flowers for energy and eat pollen for protein to grow strong. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Clover, Thistle, Lupine, Aster - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Red Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-clover) (*Trifolium pratense*) — Helps this plant reproduce by carrying pollen. - **Eaten by:** Garden Cross Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — A spider might catch a bee in its web. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Robins eat various insects, including bees. - **Parasitizes:** Ashton's Cuckoo Bumble Bee (*Bombus ashtoni*) — Lays eggs in their nests and uses their workers. ## 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 If you see a bee, watch it from a distance. Don't try to touch it, as it might sting if scared. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Yellow-banded 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 Yellow-banded Bumble Bee's wingspan? 25-35 mm ### How big is Yellow-banded Bumble Bee? 10-16 mm ### How long does Yellow-banded Bumble Bee live? 14-365 days ### How fast can Yellow-banded Bumble Bee fly? 15 km/h ### What does Yellow-banded Bumble Bee eat? They drink nectar from flowers for energy and eat pollen for protein to grow strong. ### Where is Yellow-banded Bumble Bee usually found? Grasslands ### How does Yellow-banded Bumble Bee hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Parc de l'île Saint-Quentin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-de-l-le-saint-quentin) — Quebec, CA · Park - [Battle of Camp Allegheny](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/battle-of-camp-allegheny) — West Virginia, US · Historic Site - [Downtown Torrington Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-torrington-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District [View all places to see Yellow-banded Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/yellow-banded-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: [Yellow-banded Bumble Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-banded-bumble-bee)