# American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus) > A large, fuzzy bumble bee of grasslands and gardens across much of North America, an important pollinator that has experienced regional declines. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/american-bumble-bee/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Can sting.** Bumble bees can sting and their sting is painful but they are not aggressive when foraging. Only females (queens and workers) can sting; males cannot. Bumble bees do not leave their stinger in the skin and can sting more than once. For most people stings cause local pain, swelling and redness that resolve in a few days. First aid: clean the area, apply a cold compress, and consider an over-the-counter pain reliever or antihistamine for discomfort. If someone has trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat, dizziness or widespread hives after a sting, use their epinephrine auto-injector if they carry one and call emergency services immediately. **Pets:** Stings can be painful to pets and may cause localized swelling. Pets with multiple stings or allergic reactions should see a veterinarian. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Bombus pensylvanicus - Also called: American bumblebee - Order: Hymenoptera (Bees, wasps, ants) - Family: Apidae (Honey, bumble and carpenter bees) - Size: Queens 18-25 mm; workers 12-20 mm - Colours: Yellow, Black, Orange-red - Habitat: Open, flower-rich habitats: prairies, meadows, pastures, roadsides, farmland edges and gardens - Range: Historically across much of eastern and central North America from Canada through the United States and into northern Mexico; now reduced in parts of its northern and eastern range - Active: Spring through fall (peak summer activity); diurnal (active in daylight hours) - Lifespan: Queens live about 1 year (including overwintering); workers live several weeks to a few months during the colony season - Effect on plants: Pollinator - Pest: no ## Overview Bombus pensylvanicus is a social bumble bee native to much of eastern and central North America. Colonies are annual: a single queen founds a nest in spring, workers rear brood through summer, and new queens and males are produced in late summer and fall. It forages on a wide range of wildflowers, crops and garden plants and is an important pollinator of native plants and agricultural crops. This species has declined in parts of its range over recent decades, especially in the northeastern and midwestern United States, due to habitat loss, pesticide exposure, disease, and reduced floral resources. Where still common, it is often seen in open habitats such as prairies, meadows, roadside verges and flower-rich pastures and gardens. ## How to identify it Bombus pensylvanicus is a large, robust bumble bee with short, even hair (pile). Queens are typically 18-25 mm long, workers 12-20 mm, and males similar to workers in size. Females have a black face, a yellow thorax with black hair at the rear and between the wings, and an abdomen with the second and third segments (and sometimes the first) yellow and the rest black. Males are similar but generally show more yellow. - Large bumble bee with a yellow thorax that is black toward the rear - Abdomen yellow on the second and third segments, with the tail end black (no red, orange or white tail) - Short, even hair that looks neat rather than shaggy; black face - Found in open, flower-rich habitats rather than shaded forest interiors ## Lookalikes - **Common eastern bumble bee** (Bombus impatiens): B. impatiens has yellow on only the first abdominal segment, with the rest of the abdomen black; B. pensylvanicus has yellow on the second and third segments. - **Golden northern bumble bee** (Bombus fervidus): B. fervidus has yellow on the first four abdominal segments and a distinct black band between the wings on an otherwise yellow thorax; B. pensylvanicus has yellow mainly on segments two and three and more black at the rear of the thorax. ## Life cycle - **Egg:** Laid by the queen inside a nest cell; eggs hatch in a few days depending on temperature. - **Larva (grub):** Legless larvae are fed nectar and pollen by workers or the queen and grow rapidly for about 1-2 weeks. - **Pupa:** Larvae pupate within cells, undergoing metamorphosis for roughly 1-2 weeks before emerging as adults. - **Adult (queen, worker, male):** Adults forage, tend brood (workers), and reproduce (queens produce a new generation of queens and males late season). New queens overwinter to start colonies next year. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Fed regurgitated nectar and pollen by workers or the queen - Adults eat: Nectar for energy and pollen for protein; visits a wide variety of flowering plants - Predators of the young: Nest predators and parasites such as flies, wasps, ants and small mammals may raid brood cells - Predators of adults: Birds, robber flies, dragonflies, spiders, mantids, and some small mammals; also parasitized by specialist cuckoo bumble bees and mites ## Effect on plants and gardens Forages widely on nectar and collects pollen from many wildflowers, garden plants and crops; valuable for pollination of native plants, fruits and legumes. ## Where and when to find it Look in sunny, flower-rich areas: meadows, prairie remnants, pastures, roadside wildflowers and gardens. Nesting often occurs in rodent burrows, grass tussocks or cavities at ground level. - Best time: Late spring through late summer and early fall; most active on warm, calm days during daylight hours. - Tips: Use a telephoto or zoom to photograph foraging bees without disturbing them. Slow movements and staying a few metres away reduces defensive behaviour. Early morning and late afternoon light is good for photos. ## Fun facts - Unlike honey bees, bumble bee colonies are annual: only new queens overwinter and start next year's colonies. - Bumble bees can 'buzz pollinate' — they vibrate flowers to release pollen from plants like tomatoes and blueberries. - Bumble bees can warm their flight muscles by shivering, which lets them forage in cooler weather than many other bees. ## Frequently asked questions ### Are American bumble bees dangerous? They can sting if handled or trapped, but they are not aggressive while foraging. Stings are painful but not typically dangerous unless you are allergic. ### Do American bumble bees make honey? No. They store small nectar reserves for colony use but do not produce large honey stores like honey bees. ### Why do I have bumble bees in my garden? Your garden likely provides abundant flowers for nectar and pollen. Open, sunny flower beds, herbs and vegetables attract bumble bees. ### How can I get rid of a bumble bee nest? Removal is usually unnecessary because nests are short-lived and beneficial. If a nest is in a dangerous location, contact a local beekeeper or pest control professional; do not try to destroy a nest yourself because that can provoke many stings. ### Can I help American bumble bee populations? Yes: plant continuous, diverse, native flowering plants from spring to fall, avoid or minimize insecticide use (especially neonicotinoids), provide undisturbed nesting habitat and support conservation of prairies and meadows. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/56887), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombus_pensylvanicus). Identify insects and spiders from a photo with the Insect Scanner iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1543946563?pt=126685406&ct=web-markdown&mt=8 Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.