Bombus borealis

Kirby, 1837

Northern Amber Bumble Bee, Northern Amber Bumblebee

Bombus borealis is a medium-sized bumblebee native to northern North America, recognized by its predominantly yellow body coloration with pale to white hairs on the . The occupies woodland across Canada, Alaska, and the northern and eastern United States, where it nests underground and males congregate near nest sites to seek mates.

Bombus (Subterraneobombus) borealis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Bombus borealis: /ˈbɒm.bəs bɔːˈriː.ælɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

The combination of uniformly yellow body with pale/white hairs distinguishes B. borealis from many other North American Bombus that typically show black banding or more contrasting color patterns. The amber overall appearance and woodland association provide additional field clues. Males can be distinguished by their size range and genital .

Images

Appearance

Queens measure 18–22 mm in length with yellow body hairs and pale to white hairs on the . are similarly colored and measure approximately 13 mm. Males range from 14–17 mm in length and share the yellow and pale coloration pattern.

Habitat

Primarily found in woodland . Nests are constructed underground, typically in concealed locations within forested environments.

Distribution

Native to northern North America. Occurs across Canada and Alaska, and extends into the northern and eastern contiguous United States.

Diet

Feeds on nectar and pollen from multiple plant including milkvetches (Astragalus), thistles (Cirsium), wild blackberries (Rubus), goldenrods (Solidago), comfrey (Symphytum), clovers (Trifolium), and vetches (Vicia).

Life Cycle

Social colony cycle typical of Bombus: queens emerge in spring to establish underground nests, are produced to maintain and expand the colony, and males are produced later in the season. Males congregate near nest sites to seek mates.

Behavior

Males exhibit mate-seeking by congregating in the vicinity of nests. The performs buzz pollination, vibrating muscles to dislodge pollen from flowers.

Ecological Role

of wild flowering plants and potentially agricultural crops within its range. Contributes to plant through both nectar collection and buzz pollination services.

Human Relevance

Potential value in northern agricultural and horticultural systems. Not known to be commercially reared.

Similar Taxa

Bombus fervidusAlso yellow-dominated, but typically shows more extensive black on the and has a more southern distribution; B. borealis is distinguished by its northern range and woodland preference
Other yellow Bombus speciesMost North American bumblebees show black banding or more complex patterns; the relatively uniform amber-yellow coloration with pale is distinctive for B. borealis

More Details

Nesting biology

Underground nesting habit may provide protection from environmental extremes and , though specific nest site requirements are not well documented.

Male aggregation

Male congregation near nests is a characteristic mating system feature, though the specific cues used for have not been studied in detail.