Bumblebees

Bumblebees, members of the genus Bombus, are large, hairy bees in the family Apidae. They are social insects, and most species form annual colonies led by a single queen. They occur in a variety of habitats, including meadows, gardens, forests, and grasslands, across temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America.

Individual bumblebees are typically 1.2 to 2.5 centimeters long. Their bodies are densely covered with fur and characteristically display bands of black and yellow or orange, though color patterns vary among species. They have robust bodies and a relatively short proboscis, which makes them effective pollinators of many flowers.

Life cycle and colony development begin in spring when an overwintering queen emerges, searches for a nest site, and starts a colony by laying eggs that become workers. As the colony grows, the queen may lay eggs that develop into males (drones) and new queens. Late in the season, fertilized queens mate and hibernate separately to start new colonies the following year; the original colony typically perishes with the onset of autumn.

Bumblebees forage on a wide range of flowering plants and are capable of buzz pollination, a vibration-based technique that helps release pollen from certain flowers, such as tomatoes and peppers. They can thermoregulate, warming their thorax to fly in cooler conditions.

Threats include habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and disease, leading to declines in some species. Conservation efforts focus on habitat restoration, reducing pesticide impacts, and researching disease dynamics. Bumblebees are important pollinators for many crops and wild plants, contributing to ecosystem functioning and agricultural yields.