Common eastern bumble bee vs Two-spotted bumble bee
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a common eastern bumble bee from a two-spotted bumble bee, and whether either one bites or stings.
Common eastern bumble bee
Bombus impatiens
Two-spotted bumble bee
Bombus bimaculatus
≠The key differences
Similar yellow thorax and first abdominal segment, but the second abdominal segment usually has a central yellow patch (often forming two spots or a W shape); hair is longer and shaggier.
B. impatiens has yellow only on the first abdominal segment, whereas B. bimaculatus has yellow on the first two segments, the second often with a two-lobed patch.
⚖︎Side by side
| Common eastern bumble bee | Two-spotted bumble bee | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Can sting | Can sting |
| Size | Queen 18-22 mm; workers 8-16 mm; males 12-17 mm (body length) | Queen 18-22 mm; workers 10-16 mm; males similar to workers or slightly larger |
| Colours | Black, Bright yellow, White (tail) | Yellow, Black, White (tail) |
| Family | Apidae | Apidae |
| Habitat | Open and semi-open areas: gardens, meadows, parks, agricultural fields, forest edges; nests in cavities, rodent burrows, compost piles and sheltered cavities. | Meadows, field edges, gardens, orchards, and open woodland; nests in underground cavities, grass tussocks or abandoned small mammal nests |
| Range | Eastern and central North America: from southern Canada (Ontario to the Maritimes) through the eastern United States to the Great Plains. Also reared commercially for greenhouse pollination in North America. | Eastern and central North America — widespread in the eastern United States and adjacent Canadian provinces |
| Active | Spring through fall (roughly April to October depending on latitude); diurnal (active during daylight). | Spring through autumn (roughly April to October in much of its range); diurnal (active in daylight) |
| Pest? | No | No |
🔍How to spot a common eastern bumble bee
- Yellow thorax and yellow first abdominal segment; the rest of the abdomen is black (no white tail).
- Large, robust, hairy body typical of bumble bees; queens noticeably larger than workers.
- Flight is relatively slow and bumbling compared with smaller bees; often visits open-faced and tubular flowers.
🔍How to spot a two-spotted bumble bee
- Medium to large, robust bee with dense hair (fuzzy appearance).
- Yellow thorax and black abdomen with yellow on the first two segments; the yellow on the second segment is often two-lobed or M-shaped.
- Queens noticeably larger than workers, with the same colour pattern.
- Compared to similar species, the yellow pattern on the abdomen is patchier rather than a single broad band; check multiple features and regional guides for confident ID.
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a common eastern bumble bee and a two-spotted bumble bee?
Similar yellow thorax and first abdominal segment, but the second abdominal segment usually has a central yellow patch (often forming two spots or a W shape); hair is longer and shaggier. B. impatiens has yellow only on the first abdominal segment, whereas B. bimaculatus has yellow on the first two segments, the second often with a two-lobed patch.
Is a common eastern bumble bee or a two-spotted bumble bee more dangerous?
Common eastern bumble bee: Can sting. Two-spotted bumble bee: Can sting. Workers and queens can sting and may do so if handled, stepped on, or if their nest is disturbed. Bumble bees can sting and will do so if trapped against the skin or if the nest is disturbed.
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.