Overview

Bumblebees are among the most charismatic garden insects: plump, furry, and loud in flight, with bands of yellow, black, and white that vary by species. Unlike honey bees, bumblebee colonies are small and annual — a queen starts fresh each spring in an old mouse nest or grass tussock.

Bumblebees are vital pollinators with a special trick: buzz pollination. By vibrating their flight muscles at high frequency, they shake pollen loose from flowers like tomatoes and blueberries — a service few other bees provide.

Habitat

Gardens, meadows, hedgerows, and woodland edges with wildflowers support bumblebees across the UK and US. They need nectar and pollen from spring through autumn, and undisturbed ground for nesting.

Countries found

Interesting facts

01
Bumblebees can buzz-pollinate tomatoes — shaking pollen loose by vibrating their flight muscles.
02
They can fly in cooler temperatures than most insects.
03
Only new queens survive the winter — the rest of the colony dies in autumn.

Conservation status

NT — Near Threatened

Many bumblebee species are declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. Several UK and North American species have disappeared from parts of their range.