Bumble Bees, Apidae

Insect

Bumble bees are stout- bodied, hairy, and black with yellow or orange markings. They are larger and rounder than honey bees. They build their nests in the ground, in ditch banks and undisturbed areas. The mated female queen overwinters in the nest, then rears a new brood of sterile female worker bees in the early spring. These worker bees gather pollen to enlarge the nest. In late August, male bees and new queen bees are produced. After mating, the males die, while the queens over-winter. Bumble bees are more active than honey bees in poor weather and work longer hours during the day. They have long tongues that allow them to effectively pollinate deep, narrow blueberry flowers.

Role

Pollinators of blueberry flowers.