American Bumble Bee, Bombus pennsylvanicus

Excerpted from Bumble Bees of Wisconsin

This lovely bee can be found throughout the US East, and is a rather handsome specimen! Their super dark wings and short, even hair gives them a more formal appearance.

Physical Description

Hair length short and even. Thorax with yellow band(s), typically anterior. First abdominal segment often yellow in middle. Second and third abdominal segments entirely yellow, with remainder of tail black. Dark wings. Hair on top of the head always black. Males typically with an entirely yellow abdomen. Queens are typically large, similar in size to B. auricomus.

Activity Period

Queens emerge late, and colonies last well into August. Peak worker numbers in late July, with new queens and drones present from late July to September.

Range

Throughout Wisconsin, but typically associated with more open habitats south of the North woods. Current records of this species in Wisconsin are rare.

Preferred Flowers

 Vetches
 Goldenrod
 Clover

Bumble Bee Videos

 Buzz Pollination
 Slo-Mo Footage of a Bumble Bee Dislodging Pollen
 Look Inside a Bumblebee Nest
 How to Build a Bumble Bee House
 Development of Colony and Nest in the Bumblebee