Long-tongued
Guides
Bombus fervidus
golden northern bumble bee, yellow bumblebee
Bombus fervidus is a North American bumble bee distinguished by its predominantly yellow coloration on the abdomen and thorax. The species is a long-tongued specialist that forages on flowers with deep corollas, and has been documented visiting over 20 plant genera including milkweeds, goldenrods, and blueberries. It exhibits complex social behavior including coordinated nest defense and worker-queen conflict over male production. Populations have declined significantly across most of its range, with habitat loss to agricultural intensification identified as the primary threat; it is currently classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
Bombus pensylvanicus
American bumblebee, Sonoran bumblebee
Bombus pensylvanicus is a threatened bumble bee species historically widespread across eastern North America. Populations have declined approximately 90% since the early 2000s, with range contractions particularly severe in northern and eastern portions of its former distribution. The species is a long-tongued pollinator favoring open grassland and agricultural habitats. It maintains a typical bumble bee colony cycle with queens initiating nests in early spring and colonies persisting until late autumn. The species is of significant conservation concern and has been proposed for Endangered Species Act protection.