Category: Bombus
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Half-black/Sanderson’s bumble bee (Bombus vagans/sandersoni)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus vagans / Bombus sandersoni Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans) and Sanderson’s bumble bee (Bombus sandersoni) are two forest-associated bumble bees with similar patterning. Both species have long, messy light-yellow hairs on the top half of the abdomen, though some individuals of B. sandersoni deviate considerably from this standard color pattern.…
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Tricolored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus ternarius Tricolored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius) is hard to miss. Its striking black, yellow, and orange patterning separates are more reminiscent of bumble bees of the western United States than most of our eastern fauna. B. ternarius is widespread, common, and particularly adaptable in suburban and urban areas, though it…
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Confusing bumble bee (Bombus perplexus)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus perplexus Despite its name, perplexing bumble bee (Bombus perplexus) doesn’t have to be an identification quagmire. In particular, the distinctive dark-gold color of most individuals and black underwings sets them apart from the superficially similar species pair B. vagans/sandersoni. While B. perplexus does turn up in urban areas, you’re probably…
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American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus pensylvanicus American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus) is an iconic, but declining bumble bee. This species is strongly associated with open lands like grasslands, prairies, and even barrier islands, but has become much harder to find in the northeast in recent years. It is thought to be almost completely extirpated from…
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Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus impatiens Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) is by far the most abundant bumble bee in the northeast. Most males and female can be easily identified from the lemon-yellow coloration and single yellow band on T1. This bee is active throughout the year, but becomes particularly abundant in August, September,…
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Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus griseocollis Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis) is a common bumble bee in the northeast, often found in gardens, parks, and cities. Most males and female can be easily identified from the short “buzz cut” hairs on thorax, lemon-yellow T1 and brown-yellow band on T2. Small nests are active throughout the…
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Northern amber bumble bee (Bombus borealis)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus borealis Northern amber bumble bee (Bombus borealis) is aptly named: this is a bee of northern latitudes with dark gold hair all over its body. This long-tongue species occupies open lands near forests, and seems to be increasingly widespread in recent years. We find them mainly on legumes with deep…
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Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus bimaculatus Two-spotted bumble bees (Bombus bimaculatus) carry spring on their wings. Queens are often among the first bumble bees seen each year, taking advantage of a pulse of forage in the forest canopy and spring ephemerals in the understory. Colonies grow and senesce quickly, producing the earliest reproductive after less…
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Golden northern bumble bee (Bombus fervidus)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus fervidus Golden northern bumble bee (Bombus fervidus) is always a treat to see. This handsome bumble bee is found in open lands including meadows, agricultural fields, and cities. Through B. fervidus is widespread, it is never very common, and is thought to be in decline, possibly due to the widespread…
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Black-and-gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus auricomus Black-and-gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus) often yields exclamations about its size compared to other bees. These large, striking bumble bees are hard to miss, and are often heard before they are seen. Queens emerge late in the year, and found small nests that senesce quickly; new gynes are seen…