Fauna
Insect

Two-spotted Bumble Bee

Bombus bimaculatus

Also known as Two-Spotted Bumblebee

Two-spotted bumble bees are early spring pioneers, among the first native bees to emerge and forage across eastern North American woodlands, gardens, and meadows. Queen bees establish below-ground nests in abandoned rodent burrows or under tussocks of grass, raising workers that quickly take over foraging duties. They are robust generalist pollinators, efficiently buzz-pollinating a wide array of early-blooming wildflowers and agricultural crops.

PollinatorSocial InsectEarly Emerging
Two-spotted Bumble Bee reference1 / 7
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFlower nectar, Pollen
Predators
  • Crab spiders
  • Birds
  • Robber flies
ThreatsPesticide exposure, habitat fragmentation, and pathogens from managed bees
HabitatsTemperate forests, woodland edges, meadows, parks, and suburban gardens
Life spanQueens live up to 1 year; workers live 2 to 6 weeks
Classification
  1. FamilyApidae
  2. SpeciesBombus bimaculatus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskVery high
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is very high
Females sting defensively if nests are disturbed; observe from a safe distance.
Why it is dangerous
Stings inject venom containing peptides and enzymes that cause localized pain and potential severe anaphylaxis in sensitive individuals.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by a black abdomen featuring two distinct yellow patches on the second abdominal segment.
What to do
Give active nests a wide berth and avoid sudden movements when observing foraging workers.
Responsible observation
  • Spring Spotting: Look for large queens foraging on early blossoms like willow and spring ephemerals.
  • Garden Support: Plant native early-season bloomers such as penstemon, lupine, and blueberries.
  • Nest Respect: Give ground nests a wide berth to avoid triggering defensive behavior.
Related species
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