Insect · GBIF taxon 1340416
American Bumble Bee
Bombus pensylvanicusAlso known as American Bumblebee
American bumble bees are vital native pollinators recognized by their soft, yellow and black striped abdomens and deep, steady buzz as they forage across grasslands and meadows. Single queens emerge from winter burrows in early spring to establish colonies under thick grass, abandoned rodent burrows, or brush piles. Workers labor tirelessly through summer, vibrating flowers via buzz pollination to release tightly held pollen from native crops and wildflowers.
PollinatorFuzzyNative Species
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Floral nectar
- Pollen
Predators
- Birds
- Robber flies
- Skunks
ThreatsHabitat loss, pesticides, pathogens, climate change
HabitatsGrasslands, prairies, agricultural fields, open meadows
Life span1 year for queens, 1 to 2 months for workers
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyApidae
- SpeciesBombus pensylvanicus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Females deliver painful stings if defensive; observe foraging bees calmly without touching.
- Why it is dangerous
- Stings inject venom causing sharp pain, localized swelling, and risk of severe anaphylaxis in sensitive people.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a yellow thorax, yellow upper abdomen, and a distinctly black lower abdomen.
- What to do
- Observe quietly without blocking flight paths or making fast movements near nest sites.
- What to notice
- Identify by yellow thoracic bands paired with a black tail end in sunny open prairies.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a respectful distance and avoid disturbing nesting burrows in undisturbed soil.
Responsible observation
- Garden Planting: Grow native flowering perennials like sunflowers, clovers, and goldenrod to supply continuous bloom.
- Pesticide Avoidance: Eliminate broad-spectrum insecticides in garden spaces to protect foraging bees.
- Nest Protection: Leave undisturbed grass clumps and brush piles to provide natural nesting and overwintering sites.
Host Plant (c) KENPEI, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative (c) psweet, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by psweet · cc-by-sa
Close Relative
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.