Bumblebee
Guides
Aphomia sociella
Bee Moth, Bumble Bee Wax Moth
Aphomia sociella, commonly known as the bee moth or bumble bee wax moth, is a small pyralid moth native to Europe that has become an economically significant pest of bee colonies. The species is notable for its unique dual-modal mating system combining sex pheromones and ultrasonic courtship songs produced by males using specialized tegular tymbals. Females lay eggs in nests of bumblebees, wasps, and occasionally weakened honeybee hives, where larvae feed on nest materials, pollen, honey, and host brood. Infestation levels increase with proximity to commercial apiaries, causing reduced host reproductive output and weakened immune responses in bumblebees.
Bombus cryptarum
cryptic bumblebee, Cryptic Bumble Bee
Bombus cryptarum is a widespread bumblebee species native to the northern hemisphere, occurring across Europe, Asia, and western North America. It belongs to the subgenus Bombus sensu stricto, a species complex of morphologically similar and difficult-to-distinguish bees. The species was only recently confirmed in the British Isles and its complete distribution remains unclear due to ongoing taxonomic uncertainties. Several subspecies have been described, including the endangered B. cryptarum florilegus in Japan and the recently described B. cryptarum pallidocinctus.
Bombus distinguendus
Great Yellow Bumble Bee, great yellow bumblebee
Bombus distinguendus, the great yellow bumblebee, is a bumblebee species with a Palearctic distribution spanning northern and central Europe, northern Russia, and Alaska. The species has experienced significant population declines across much of its European range, with critically low numbers or local extinction in several regions. In Ireland, it is classified as Endangered and restricted to a single remaining population in the northwest. The species exhibits late-season phenology compared to other bumblebees and shows strong foraging preferences for specific plant species, particularly Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra) in Irish populations.
Bombus fraternus
Southern Plains bumblebee
Bombus fraternus, commonly called the Southern Plains bumblebee, is a large bumblebee species native to the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. It is classified in the subgenus Cullumanobombus and is currently listed as endangered, with estimated abundance below 15% of historical numbers. The species is distinguished by its mostly black coloration with yellow thoracic and abdominal bands and unusually flattened abdominal hairs.
Bombus frigidus
frigid bumblebee, frigid bumble bee
Bombus frigidus is a rare, cold-adapted bumblebee species native to arctic and subarctic regions of North America. Described by Frederick Smith in 1854, this species exhibits several specialized adaptations to its harsh environment, including thermoregulatory abilities that allow it to maintain flight at low temperatures, shortened copulation duration compared to other bumblebees, and an early-emergence colony cycle synchronized with brief arctic summers. The species has developed a notable mutualistic relationship with Mertensia paniculata, using floral color cues to efficiently locate nectar. Despite its rarity, B. frigidus is currently classified as Least Concern, though climate change poses a significant long-term threat to its specialized habitat.
Bombus griseocollis
brown-belted bumblebee, brown-belted bumble bee
Bombus griseocollis is a widespread North American bumblebee species commonly known as the brown-belted bumblebee. It is notable for its flexible habitat use, occurring in both natural and heavily urbanized environments including densely populated cities. The species maintains stable populations across much of its range, in contrast to many declining North American bumblebees. It exhibits primitively eusocial colony organization with temporal division of labor among workers.
Bombus neoboreus
Active Bumble Bee
Bombus neoboreus, commonly known as the active bumble bee, is an arctic species of bumblebee described by Sladen in 1919. Its range spans northern Canada and extends westward into Alaska. The species is adapted to cold, high-latitude environments. It is among the less-studied North American bumble bees, with relatively few documented observations.
Bombus ternarius
Tricolored Bumble Bee, Orange-belted Bumblebee
Bombus ternarius is a small, slender bumblebee distinguished by its striking tricolor pattern of yellow, orange, and black bands. It is a ground-nesting, eusocial species with an annual colony cycle lasting one season. The species is common throughout the northeastern United States and much of Canada, where it serves as an important pollinator of native plants including Rubus, goldenrods, Vaccinium, and milkweeds.
Bombus vancouverensis
Vancouver Bumble Bee, Vancouver Island Bumblebee
Bombus vancouverensis is a eusocial bumblebee of subgenus Pyrobombus, widespread across mountainous regions of western North America. The species was long treated as synonymous with Bombus bifarius, with most historical literature on bifarius actually referring to vancouverensis. Genetic studies completed in 2020 confirmed their distinct status, with true B. bifarius being exclusively red-tailed and geographically restricted, while B. vancouverensis is polymorphic and broadly distributed. It is one of only two bumblebee species known to use pheromones for kin recognition.