# Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii) > A medium- to large-sized western North American bumble bee and important pollinator, variable in colour and usually not aggressive unless handled or defending a nest. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/hunt-s-bumble-bee/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Painful sting.** Hunt's bumble bees can sting, and unlike honey bees they do not leave the stinger behind. Stings are typically painful and can cause local swelling and itching; they are not aggressive and usually sting only if crushed, handled, or defending a nest. First aid: move away from the nest, wash the area with soap and water and apply a cold pack to reduce swelling. Signs of a severe allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, widespread hives, dizziness) are an emergency: use an epinephrine auto-injector if one is prescribed and call emergency services immediately. **Pets:** Stings can be painful for pets. Dogs or cats that bother a nest may receive multiple stings and can suffer allergic reactions or swelling; seek veterinary care if a pet has many stings, difficulty breathing, or severe swelling. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Bombus huntii - Also called: Hunt bumble bee - Order: Hymenoptera (Bees, wasps, ants and relatives) - Family: Apidae (Apidae (bees)) - Size: Workers about 9-16 mm; queens about 18-22 mm - Colours: Black, Bright yellow, Orange-red, White (pale tail variants) - Habitat: Open and semi-open habitats: prairies, meadows, shrub-steppe, agricultural fields, gardens, and montane slopes; nests in ground cavities, tussocks or protected crevices. - Range: Western North America — from Alaska and western Canada through the western United States into northern Mexico. Local abundance varies by region and habitat. - Active: Spring through late summer or early autumn; active during daylight hours, most foraging on warm, sunny days. - Lifespan: Colony lasts a single season (spring to autumn); individual workers live weeks to a few months, queens overwinter and live up to a year. - Effect on plants: Pollinator - Pest: no ## Overview Bombus huntii (Hunt's bumble bee) is a bumble bee native to western North America. It is an important pollinator of wildflowers and some crops. Like other bumble bees it is a social species with a colony consisting of a queen, workers and later males and new queens. Appearance and exact colour patterns vary by population and season, but individuals are robust, hairy bees adapted for carrying pollen and nectar. They usually nest in pre-existing cavities such as rodent burrows, tussocks, compost piles or buildings, and colonies are active from spring through late summer or early autumn depending on latitude and elevation. They are not considered household pests, and they play a beneficial role in gardens and agriculture. ## How to identify it Workers and queens are robust and furry. The face and the front of the thorax are yellow, with a black band between the wings; the first abdominal segment is yellow, the next one or two segments are orange-red, followed by a yellow band and a black tip. Queens are larger and bulkier than workers and males, with denser hair. Males have more yellow hair on the face and body. - Robust, hairy bumble bee with a yellow face and thorax (black band between the wings), and an abdomen of yellow, then orange-red, then yellow, ending in a black tip. - Larger size with dense hair compared with many solitary bees; slow, bumbling flight. - Nest site in ground cavities, rodent burrows, compost piles or protected crevices (not in open exposed nests). ## Lookalikes - **Yellow-faced bumble bee** (Bombus vosnesenskii): B. vosnesenskii has a yellow face and front of thorax but a mostly black abdomen with a single yellow band near the tip, and no orange bands. - **Western bumble bee** (Bombus occidentalis): B. occidentalis has black face hair, usually a black or mostly black thorax and a white tail, without the orange-red middle bands of B. huntii. ## Life cycle - **Egg:** Laid in cells inside the nest by the queen or workers; hatch in a few days depending on temperature. - **Larva:** Grub-like stage fed with pollen and nectar by workers; grows rapidly and molts several times over about 1-2 weeks. - **Pupa:** Transforms inside a cocoon over several days to weeks, developing adult features. - **Adult:** Emerges to become a worker, male, or new queen; workers forage and care for brood, new queens mate and then overwinter to start next year's colony. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Fed on pollen and nectar by workers (protein from pollen is essential for larval growth). - Adults eat: Nectar for energy and pollen for protein; forage on many flowering plants, often visiting early-blooming species. - Predators of the young: Small mammals (nest predators), parasitoid flies and wasps, ants, and some beetles that invade nests. - Predators of adults: Birds, robber flies, dragonflies, spiders, and predatory insects; humans sometimes accidentally kill individuals. ## Effect on plants and gardens Adults collect nectar and pollen from a wide variety of wildflowers and garden plants. They are effective pollinators of native plants and some crops, especially in cooler or early-season conditions where bumble bees outperform honey bees. ## Where and when to find it Foraging adults on open flowers in meadows, gardens, agricultural fields, and montane slopes; nests in rodent burrows, under grass tussocks, compost piles or protected crevices. - Best time: Spring through late summer; warm, sunny days are best for observing foraging activity, typically mid-morning to late afternoon. - Tips: Use a telephoto or macro lens for close shots without disturbing bees. Move slowly, avoid sudden movements, and photograph from a comfortable distance to reduce stress on the bee. ## Fun facts - Bumble bees can forage at lower temperatures and in cloudier weather than many other bees because they can thermoregulate by shivering their flight muscles. - Hunt's bumble bee varies in colour pattern across its range, so individuals from different regions can look quite different. - Bumble bee queens can carry large pollen loads on their hind legs called corbiculae, which are visible as dense pollen baskets when returning to the nest. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Hunt's bumble bee sting? Yes. Like all bumble bees, it can sting. They are not aggressive and sting mainly when handled or defending a nest. ### Are Hunt's bumble bees endangered? They are not currently listed as globally endangered. Population trends vary regionally; some local declines in bumble bees are reported, but B. huntii is generally not considered critically threatened. ### Why is a bumble bee in my house? They sometimes enter buildings while foraging or when searching for nest sites, especially in spring. A lone bumble bee inside is usually lost and can be gently guided outside — do not swat it. ### How can I encourage Hunt's bumble bees in my garden? Plant a diverse sequence of native, nectar- and pollen-rich flowers that bloom from spring to autumn, provide undisturbed ground or tussocks for nesting, avoid or minimize pesticide use, and leave some leaf litter or compost areas. ### How do I get rid of a nest on my property? Removal is rarely necessary because they are beneficial pollinators. If a nest poses a safety risk (close to doors, in high-traffic areas), contact a local beekeeper or pest control service experienced with bees; do not attempt to destroy a nest yourself because that can provoke many stings. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/154043), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombus_huntii). 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.