bumble bee Bombus spp. Kingdom: Animalia FEATURES Phylum: Arthropoda Bumble bees are about three-fourths inch long. The Class: Insecta queen is larger than the other bumble bees in the Order: Hymenoptera hive. These insects have a stout, hairy body with black and yellow coloration. The wings are clear with Family: Apidae black veins. ILLINOIS STATUS common, native BEHAVIORS Bumble bees may be found statewide in Illinois. They are important pollinators of the flowers that they visit to collect nectar and pollen. These social insects nest in or on the ground in a deserted mouse nest or something similar. Their life cycle includes egg, larva, pupa and adult stages. Only the fertilized queen overwinters from a colony. In the spring, she selects a nest site and constructs the nest, which is lined with plant material. The first brood raised consists of all workers (females). The workers do all the jobs of the hive except egg-laying. Late in the year both males and queens are produced. The males mate with the queens in the fall.

adult ILLINOIS RANGE

adult

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. adults with pollen on legs

Aquatic Habitats bottomland forests; marshes; peatlands; swamps; wet prairies and fens

Woodland Habitats bottomland forests; coniferous forests; southern Illinois lowlands; upland deciduous forests

Prairie and Edge Habitats black soil prairie; dolomite prairie; edge; gravel prairie; hill prairie; sand prairie; shrub prairie

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources.