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© 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
11
MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bees
Elaine Evans & Britt Forsberg
Photo: Eileen Miller
Bumble bee look-alikes
Characteristics:
• Antenna variable
• No pollen basket
• One pair of wings
• Short, blunt mouthparts
Flies that mimic coloration
Clearwing Moth
Photo by TexasEagle
Long curled tongueLong straight antennaeNo waist
Characteristics:
• Large size, robust body
• Yellow hair on thorax
• Shiny abdomen
• Hairy scopa on hind legs, not pollen basket
• Males with yellow markings, not hairs, on face
• Nest in hard wood
Photo: Jennifer Hopwood
Bumble bee look-alikes
Large Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa virginica)
Characteristics:
• Small size
• Hairy scopa on hind legs, not pollen basket
Photo: Jennifer Hopwood
Bumble bee look-alikes
Andrena
Males
•No stinger
•“Beard” on mandible
• Often smaller than females
• Often with white or yellow facial hair
• Some species have enlarged eyes
Females
• Often larger than males
•Sting present
Female bumble bee leg
(non-parasitic)
Male bumble bee leg
Photos: Sam Droege
Big eyesLong antennae
Regular eyesRegular antennae
Photos: Sam Droege
Identifying bumble bees to species
Color patterns can be important, but are not always reliable
Images by Elaine Evans / Xerces Society
Identifying bumble bees to species
Things to look at other than color patterns
Start with yellow sections
then follow numbers
Read descriptions to
see if it fits
Color patterns can vary
in the real world
Earliest emergence records in Wisconsin
April May June July August September
Queens WorkersMales
Medler and Carney 1963
Bombus impatiens / Common Eastern bumble bee
• Nest underground at
various depths
• Queens come out mid-
spring
•Medium tongue length
•Select food plants:
Cirsium (Thistles),
Eupatorium, Solidago
(Goldenrods)
Photo: Gary Zamzow
Bombus impatiens / Common Eastern bumble bee
• Very common species
• Used commercially;
expanding in range
• IUCN Status: Least
Concern
Photo: Gary Zamzow
Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society
• Thorax mostly
yellow; wing bases
yellow; usually with
black spot centrally
•T1 Yellow and all
other abdominal
segments black
Male
Female
Bombus impatiens / Common Eastern bumble bee
Illustrations: Evans
Bombus bimaculatus (Two-spotted bumble bee)
• Nests underground but
also on surface, and uses
nesting boxes
• Queens emerge early in
the spring
•Tongue length: medium
• Select food plants:
Cirsium (Thistles),
Hypericum (St. John’s
Wort), Rosa, Solidago
(Goldenrods), Vicia
(Vetches)
Photo: Patricia Nankey
• Common species
• IUCN Status: Least
Concern
Photo: Gary Zamzow
Bombus bimaculatus (Two-spotted bumble bee)
Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society
Male
Female
Bombus bimaculatus (Two-spotted bumble bee)
• Thorax mostly
yellow; wing bases
yellow; black spot
centrally
•T1 Yellow; T2 with
two yellow “W”; all
other abdominal
segments black in
Illustrations: Evans
Bombus griseocollis (Brown-belted bumble bee)
• Nest on ground or above
the surface, including in
outbuildings
• Queens come out mid-
spring
•Tongue length: medium
•Select food plants:
Asclepias (Milkweeds),
Cirsium (Thistles),
Helianthus (Sunflowers),
Solidago (Goldenrods),
Rhus (Sumacs)
Photo: Hannah Gaines
• Common species
• IUCN Status: Least
Concern
Photo: Gary Zamzow
Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society
Bombus griseocollis (Brown-belted bumble bee)
• Thorax mostly
yellow; wing
bases yellow;
black spot
centrally
•T1 Yellow
•T2 with rusty
“swoosh”
•All other
abdominal
segments blackMale
Female
Bombus griseocollis (Brown-belted bumble bee)
Illustrations: Evans
Bombus citrinus (Lemon cuckoo bumble bee)
• Parasite of B. impatiens,
bimaculatus, vagans
• Range: All of MN
• Females: Thorax usually all yellow,
T1-T2 usually black, T3 usually
yellow, T4-T6 black
• Males: T1-T2 yellow, T3 usually
yellow, T4-T7 black
• Very short malar space
• No pollen basket
• Similar species: sandersoni,
vagans, rufocinctus, perplexus
Photo: Gary Zamzow
Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society
Bombus citrinus (Lemon cuckoo bumble bee)
• Common species
• IUCN Status: Least
Concern
Bombus ternarius / Tri-colored bumble bee
• Nest underground,
sometimes at large depths
in sandy soil
• Queens come out early
spring
•Tongue length: short
•Select food plants:
Asclepias (Milkweeds),
Rubus, Solidago
(Goldenrods), Vaccinium •
Photo: Alan Eaton
• Common species
• IUCN Status: Least
Concern
Photo: Gary Zamzow
Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society
Bombus ternarius / Tri-colored bumble bee
• Thorax mostly
yellow; with
black “thumb
tack” or band
•T1 Yellow
•T2-T3 Rusty
•T4 Yellow
•T5 black
Male
Female
Bombus ternarius / Tri-colored bumble bee
Illustrations: Evans
Bombus huntii / Hunt’s bumble bee
Male
• Rare in MN, only
encountered in far
western part of
the state
Map: Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces SocietyIllustration: Evans
Bombus rufocinctus / Red-belted bumble bee
• Nest under or above
ground, including in
domiciles
• Queens come out late in
spring
Photo: R. Bercha
Bombus rufocinctus / Red-belted bumble bee
• Common species
• IUCN Status: Least
Concern
Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society
• Small bodied;
short hairs;
short face
•Variable color
pattern
Male
Female
Bombus rufocinctus
Illustrations: Evans
Bombus auricomus / Black and gold bumble bee
• Queens and workers large
•Dark wings
•Usually yellow hairs on top of head
• T1, T5 black, T2-T4 yellow
• Large males with large eyesPhoto: Molly MurrayIllustrations: Evans
• Nests under and above
ground, will also nest in urban
areas
• Known to nest in wooden
bumble bee homes
• Colonies 30-50 workers
• Queens come out in late
spring
• Long tongue
Hatfield et al. 2014
Bombus pensylvanicus /American bumble bee
• Queens large, workers medium to large
• Wings dark in color
• Malar space longer than wide
• Ocelli close to suborbital line
•Males often with orange on Ab 7
Photo: Jennifer Hopwood
Illustrations: Evans
51% decline
• Nest at surface or above
ground
• Queens emerge late in spring
• Colonies 40 -100 workers
• Aggressive in defense of nest
• Listed as a species of concern
in WI
Hatfield et al. 2014
auricomus pensylvanicus
Difficult pairs: Females
University of Illinois, Cameron et al
B. pensylvanicusLong sharp spine at top of basitarsus
B. auricomusShort spine at top of basitarsus
Also basitarsus, just below pollen basket, outer tip of segment
Bombus terricola / Yellow-banded bumble bee
• Medium sized
• Wings dark
• T1, T4 black, T2-T3 yellow, T5
black with fringe of yellow
• Malar space wider than long
(round face)
• Similar to B. pensylvanicus, but
smaller
Pocket guide and Wanted posters
available
Photo: Jodi DeLong
50% decline
• Nest underground, under
straw piles
• Queens emerge early in
spring
•Short tongue, will rob nectar
•Habitats: Close to or within wooded areas
•Listed as a species of
concern in WI
Hatfield et al. 2014
Bombus fervidus /Golden Northern bumble bee
• Queens and workers large
• Long tongue
• Black hairs on head
•Long face
Photo: MJ Hatfileld, S DroegeIllustrations: Evans
•Nests on surface, tall grass,
sometimes underground
• Colonies are large (100-
200)
• Aggressive in defending
their nests
• Habitats: Open farmland and fields
• Recent survey shows this
bee in rapid decline
•IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Hatfield et al. 2014, the Xerces Society
Bombus borealis /Northern amber bumble bee
• Workers medium in size
•Long tongue
• Face and top of head covered
with yellow-white hairs
• T1 – T4 amber yellow, 5-6 black
• Malar space longer than broad
•More common in northern MN
Photo: Naomi SmithIllustrations: Evans
7% decline
• Nests underground but
uses nesting boxes, and
may be fairly flexible
• Queens emerge later in
the spring
• Colonies may reach
100 workers
• Habitats: Close to or within wooded areas.
Hatfield et al. 2014
fervidus borealis
Difficult pairs: Females
Predominantly black hairs on face and top of head
Side of thorax mostly yellow
Predominantly yellow hairs on face and top of head
Side of thorax with large patch of dark hairs
Illustrations: Evans
pensylvanicus fervidus borealis
Difficult groups: Males
Often with orange on Ab 7 Yellow on face and top of head
Side of thorax with many black hairs
Illustrations: Evans
Bombus vagans (Half-black bumble bee)
• Habitat: Various; more
common in forests
• Forages in deep shade
• Range: All of MN; more
common in north
• Nesting: mostly
underground, sometimes
aboveground
• Colony size: 70-110
Photo: Joel GardnerPhoto: Joel Gardner
Bombus vagans (Half-black bumble bee)
• T1-T2 yellow, T3-T6/7 black
(males often with yellow hairs
on far sides of tergites)
• Long malar space (horsey
face)
• Usually yellow hairs on top of
head
• Black hairs on thorax usually
confined to spot in middle
• Male antenna with F1 long,
hairless
• Similar species: sandersoni,
rufocinctus, perplexus, affinis
• Common species
• IUCN Status: Least
Concern
Photo: Gary Zamzow
Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society
Bombus vagans (Half-black bumble bee)
Bombus sandersoni (Sanderson’s bumble bee)
• Habitat: In or near woods
• Range: Northern MN
• Nesting: underground
Photo: Margarita Miklasevskaja, PCYU, with funding from NSERC-CANPOLINPhoto: Joel Gardner
Bombus sandersoni (Sanderson’s bumble bee)
• T1-T2 yellow, T3-T6/7 usually
black (T5 sometimes yellow)
• Moderate malar space
• May have all black hairs on top
of head
• Usually at least a few black hairs
by wing bases; sometimes
complete black band
• Male antenna with F1 short,
fringed with hairs
• Similar species: vagans,
rufocinctus, perplexus, affinis
• Common species
• IUCN Status: Least
Concern
Photo: Gary Zamzow
Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society
Bombus sandersoni (Sanderson’s bumble bee)
vagans sandersoni
Difficult groups:
Males: antennae
Bombus affinis (Rusty-patched bumble bee)
• Habitat: Various; recent sightings
mostly in urban parks/gardens
• Range: Most of MN; more common
in southeast
• Nesting: underground
• Colony size: up to 200
• Frequent nectar robber
• In decline compared to pre-1997
prevalence
• Federally listed as endangered
Photo: Joel Gardner
Bombus affinis (Rusty-patched bumble bee)
• T1 yellow, T2 yellow with orange
patch (except queens), T3-T6/7 black
• Usually black band between wings
• Hair on head usually all black
• Similar species: griseocollis,
vagans, sandersoni, rufocinctus,
perplexus
• Rare, declining species
•Nearly 50% decline in
range
• Over 90% decline in
relative abundance
• IUCN Status: Critically
Endangered
Photo: Gary Zamzow
Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society
Bombus affinis (Rusty-patched bumble bee)
Bombus perplexus confusing bumble bee
• No obvious spot on thorax
•This species is highly
variable in coloration
• Abdomen with yellow on
bands 1 to 3
Illustrations: Evans
Nests underground
Males patrol circuits
Hatfield et al. 2014
• Common species
• IUCN Status: Least
Concern
Bombus bohemicus (Ashton’s cuckoo bumble bee)
• Parasite of B. affinis, terricola
• Range: All of MN
• Declining along with hosts.
Species of concern in WI.
• Sides of thorax with black hair, T1
black (females) or yellow (males), T2
black, T3-T6/7 mixed black, yellow,
white (especially female T4)
• Hair on head mostly black
• No corbicula
• Similar species: insularis, flavidus
Photos: Margarita Miklasevskaja, PCYU, with funding from NSERC-CANPOLIN
B. bohemicus aka ashtoni
• Rare, declining species
•Over 95% decline in
range
• Over 95% decline in
relative abundance
• IUCN Status: Critically
Endangered
Photo: Gary Zamzow
Hatfield et al. 2014; Xerces Society
Bombus bohemicus (Ashton’s cuckoo bumble bee)
MN Bee Atlas: Bumble Bee Surveys
Survey Protocols
• Conduct three surveys: late June, mid July, early August
• Observe flower patch for bee activity. If there is no activity, move ~1 mile down the road.
• If there is bee activity, begin survey.
• Start timer and collect bumble bees from flowers into vials
for 10 minutes of collecting time
• Record and release individuals of all identifiable species
• Photograph and record individuals of all unidentifiable species
• Repeat until data has been collected at five locations