Brown-belted Bumble Bee

Bombus griseocollis

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Subfamily: Apinae
Tribe: Bombini
Genus: Bombus
Species: griseocollis

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Bombus griseocollis: /ˈbɒmbəs ˌɡrɪziˈoʊkəlɪs/

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

Images

Bombus (Separatobombus) griseocollis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Bombus griseocollis, or the brown-belted bumblebee, is a widely distributed species in North America, often found in various habitats including urban areas. This eusocial bee plays a significant role in pollination and has adapted well to its environments.

Physical Characteristics

The queen is 21-23 mm long with a black head and face, yellow thorax, yellow and black banded abdomen, and black legs. Workers are smaller and have similar coloration but may exhibit a brown-yellow band. Males are 15-19 mm long, have large eyes, yellow hairs on their face and thorax, and an abdomen banded with yellow, yellow-brown, and black.

Identification Tips

Identify by black wings, black head, short dense hairs on thorax, and a brown belt of contrasting hairs at the base of T2. Males can be distinguished by their large eyes.

Habitat

Found in meadows, wetlands, agricultural fields, and urban areas, including densely populated cities.

Distribution

Native to much of the United States except the Southwest and to the southernmost regions of several provinces of Canada.

Diet

Feeds on a variety of plants including milkweeds, prairie clovers, echinaceas, loosestrife, bergamot, pickerel weeds, rudbeckias, goldenrods, clovers, and vetches. Queens particularly favor legumes.

Life Cycle

Nests underground or on the surface with colonies generally fewer than 50 workers. Worker bees perform various tasks for the colony.

Reproduction

Eusocial species with worker bees rearing young and performing daily tasks in the nest. Males incubate pupae and scent mark their perches.

Predators

May be attacked by conopids (thick-headed flies), but exhibit unusual resistance to their parasitism.