Bumble Bee

Identification

Bumble bees are typically larger than honeybees, ranging from 0.4 to 1.6 inches in length. They have round, hairy bodies that are usually black with yellow, orange, red, or white stripes or bands. They are typically found in Madison Wisconsin after the spring when their colonies have built up their numbers. Bumble bees have two pairs of wings that beat very fast, up to 200 times per second. They also can have pollen baskets on their hind legs, which are concave areas where they pack pollen for transport.

Bumble bees can be distinguished from other similar insects by their shape, size, and behavior. For example, carpenter bees are similar in appearance but have shiny, hairless abdomens and bore holes in wood to nest. Wasps are more slender and have less hair than bumble bees and are more aggressive and predatory. Flies may mimic bumble bees but have only one pair of wings and shorter antennae.

Lifecycle

Bumble bees have an annual lifecycle that begins in spring when the new queens emerge from hibernation. The queens are the only members of the colony that survive the winter, by burrowing into the soil and using an antifreeze substance in their blood to prevent freezing. The queens then search for a suitable nest site, which can be above or below ground, such as in clumps of grass, abandoned rodent holes, bird boxes, or under garden sheds.

The queens then collect pollen and nectar from flowers and form a mound of pollen and wax on which they lay their first batch of eggs. They also make a nectar pot to store food for themselves and their offspring. The eggs hatch into larvae that feed on the pollen and nectar provided by the queen. After about two weeks, the larvae spin cocoons and transform into adult workers.

The workers are all female and take over the tasks of foraging, caring for the brood, and defending the nest. The queen stays inside the nest and lays more eggs. The colony grows throughout the summer until it reaches its maximum size, which can vary from 50 to 500 individuals depending on the species.

In late summer or fall, the colony starts to produce males and new queens. The males leave the nest and do not return. They feed on nectar and try to mate with new queens from other colonies. The new queens also leave the nest after mating and feed heavily on pollen and nectar to store fat for hibernation. The old queen and the workers die naturally as the season changes. The cycle repeats the next year with the new queens.

Conditions Conducive to Survival

Bumble bees need three main conditions to survive: food, shelter. Food sources include a variety of flowers that provide pollen and nectar throughout the season. Bumble bees prefer flowers that have a tubular shape or a large landing platform that can accommodate their size. Some examples are clovers, sunflowers and lavender.

Shelter includes suitable nesting sites that are close to food sources and offer insulation from temperature extremes. Bumble bees can adapt to different types of nests depending on availability and preference. Some species may reuse old nests while others may build new ones each year.

Protection from threats involves avoiding predators such as birds, mammals, spiders, wasps, and other insects that may prey on bumble bees or their nests. Bumble bees have some defenses such as their bright colors that warn potential predators of their sting. They can also buzz loudly or bite to deter attackers. However, bumble bees are generally peaceful and only sting when provoked or threatened.

Another major threat to bumble bees is human activity that causes habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, disease transmission, and competition from invasive species. These factors can reduce bumble bee populations and affect their survival and reproduction. To help conserve bumble bees, it is important to protect their habitats, plant native flowers, avoid pesticides, support organic farming, and raise awareness about their importance.

Fun Facts

• Bumble bees can perform a unique service called buzz pollination, which involves vibrating flowers until they release large amounts of pollen. This helps plants produce more fruit. 
• Bumble bees can generate heat by shivering their muscles, which allows them to fly in colder temperatures than honeybees. They can also regulate their body temperature by changing their posture, exposing, or hiding their abdomen, and basking in the sun.
• Bumble bees can detect the nutritional quality of pollen by sensing a chemically complex substance in it. This helps them choose the best plant species and optimize their diets.
• Bumble bees can communicate with each other by using sounds, smells, and movements. They can make different sounds by varying the frequency and amplitude of their wingbeats. They can also produce pheromones that convey information about their identity, location, and mood. They can also use body language such as wagging their tails or pointing their antennae to indicate direction or interest.
• Bumble bees have a good sense of smell and vision. They can smell flowers from a distance and recognize different scents. They can also see colors, patterns, shapes, and polarized light. They use these cues to find and remember flowers.

Because bumble bees are pollinators and our first recommendation at Kwik Kill Pest Control is to leave their colonies alone. However, if they are causing property damage or you are allergic to their stings, give us a call for an honest evaluation to meet your specific needs!

Kwik Kill Services to control “Bees”:

• Many types of wasps such as yellow jackets, or Umbrella wasps can easily be mistaken for a type of Bee.  Please call our office for more information and a referral to a local beekeeper if Bees are indeed the insect in concern.  
• Wasp Elimination

Additional Information:

https://wisconsinbumblebees.entomology.wisc.edu/about-bumble-bees/life-cycle-and-development/
https://www.clemson.edu/extension/beekeepers/fact-sheets-publications/bumble-bee-pollinator.html
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/bumblebees.shtml