Fauna
Insect

American Bumblebee

Bombus pensylvanicus

Also known as Pennsylvania Bumblebee

American bumblebees are robust native pollinators essential for fertilizing wildflowers and agricultural crops across prairies, fields, and pastures. Queens emerge in early spring to construct nests in dense grass or abandoned mammal burrows, raising successive broods of worker bees. Their long tongues allow them to efficiently collect nectar and pollen from deep flowers through buzz pollination.

PollinatorSocial InsectNative Bee
American Bumblebee reference1 / 7
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—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyNectar, Pollen
Predators
  • Birds
  • Robber flies
  • Crab spiders
ThreatsHabitat destruction, pesticide usage, climate change, and pathogen spillover
HabitatsGrasslands, open fields, tallgrass prairies, and agricultural margins
Life span1 year for queens; 2 to 6 weeks for workers and males
Classification
  1. OrderHymenoptera
  2. FamilyApidae
  3. GenusBombus
  4. SpeciesBombus pensylvanicus
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 can sting defensively if nests are disturbed; observe foraging individuals at a safe distance.
Why it is dangerous
Females possess a smooth stinger that injects venom, which can trigger painful swelling or severe allergic reactions in sensitized individuals.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognize by the large fuzzy body, black head, yellow upper thorax, and dark yellow abdominal band.
What to do
Give active nest burrows wide berth and refrain from swatting at foraging bees.
What to notice
Look for a heavy bumblebee foraging on native prairie flowers in undisturbed open fields.
Support conservation
Avoid using pesticides around feeding grounds and preserve natural grass cover for nesting.
Responsible observation
  • Observe Quietly: Watch foraging individuals closely as they feed on blossoms without blocking their flight path.
  • Plant Native Flora: Support local colonies by planting goldenrod, clover, and sunflowers in gardens.
  • Protect Nesting Cover: Avoid disturbing thick grass clumps and underground rodent holes where queens nest.
Related species
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