Half-black Bumble Bee
Bombus vagans
This species is an excellent 'buzz pollinator', vibrating its flight muscles at a specific frequency to release tightly held pollen from flowers.
- Scientific name
- Bombus vagans
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Hymenoptera › Apidae › Bombus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Open temperate forests, forest edges, wetlands, grasslands, and urban gardens.
- Diet
- Nectar and pollen from diverse floral sources, including asters, clovers, and goldenrods.
- Range
- Eastern United States, Northern United States, Southern Canada
- Size
- Queens: 14-18 mm, Workers: 9-13 mm, Males: 11-14 mm
- Lifespan
- Queens live up to 1 year; workers live for 2 to 6 weeks.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, agricultural pesticide exposure, climate change, and diseases transmitted by managed bees.
- Safe to approach?
- This bee is docile and harmless unless stepped on, squeezed, or near its nest. Keep a respectful distance of 1-2 feet to observe safely. If stung, wash the area with soap and water and apply a cold compress. Monitor for signs of severe allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, swelling) and seek immediate medical help if they occur.
The half-black bumblebee ( Bombus vagans ) is a small bumblebee with a wide distribution in North America, its range extending from Ontario and Nova Scotia southward to Georgia.
Photo: psweet, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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