# Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) > A common western North American bumble bee, an efficient pollinator that nests on or near the ground and is generally non-aggressive unless provoked. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/yellow-faced-bumble-bee/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Can sting.** Like other bumble bees, B. vosnesenskii can sting if handled, trapped against skin, or if the nest is disturbed, and it can sting more than once. Stings are typically painful but not dangerous for most people. First aid: bumble bees do not leave their stinger behind, so simply wash the area with soap and water and apply a cold pack for pain and swelling. If there are signs of a severe allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, widespread hives, dizziness), use an epinephrine auto-injector if one has been prescribed and call emergency services immediately. **Pets:** Generally low risk; stings can be painful for small pets and allergic reactions are possible. Keep pets away from nests and bees that swarm or are agitated. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Bombus vosnesenskii - Also called: Yellow-faced bumblebee - Order: Hymenoptera (Wasps, bees and ants) - Family: Apidae (Honey bees, bumble bees and allies) - Size: Workers about 10-16 mm body length; queens 18-22 mm - Colours: Bright yellow, Jet black, Cream to white (terminal abdomen tip) - Habitat: Open and semi-open habitats including meadows, gardens, orchards, coastal scrub, and urban parks; nests on or near the ground in cavities, under grass tussocks, or in abandoned rodent burrows. - Range: Western North America: coastal and interior regions from British Columbia through Washington, Oregon and California into Baja California, and inland into parts of Idaho, Nevada and other nearby states. - Active: Spring through fall (roughly March to October in much of its range); active during daylight hours. - Lifespan: Workers live several weeks to a few months; queens can live up to a year including overwintering. - Effect on plants: Pollinator - Pest: no ## Overview Bombus vosnesenskii is a widespread bumble bee native to western North America (British Columbia south through California into Baja California, and east into parts of the Great Basin). It forages on a wide range of wildflowers and crops and often nests in cavities near the ground such as rodent burrows, under sheds, or dense grass. Colonies are annual: new queens produced in late summer overwinter and start new colonies the following spring. This species is important for both wild plant pollination and agriculture, and is commonly seen in urban gardens and natural areas across its range. ## How to identify it Workers, queens and males are mostly black bumble bees with a distinctive yellow face, yellow hair on the front of the thorax, and a single yellow band near the tip of the abdomen (on the fourth segment); the rest of the abdomen is black, without a white tail. Queens are larger and bulkier than workers. Males are similar but have more yellow hair on the face and longer antennae. The yellow face combined with the single yellow band near the rear is the most consistent field mark. - Yellow face: the head (face) is distinctly yellow rather than entirely black. - Yellow hair on the front of the thorax and a single yellow band near the tip of the abdomen; the rest of the body is black. - Medium-sized, robust bumble bee shape; queens larger and bulkier than workers. ## Lookalikes - **Red-banded bumble bee** (Bombus melanopygus): B. melanopygus usually has a red or orange band on the abdomen instead of the second bright yellow band; face colouring and regional range help separate the two. - **Western bumble bee** (Bombus occidentalis): B. occidentalis usually has a mostly black face and a white tip to the abdomen; the yellow face and single yellow band near the tail of B. vosnesenskii separate them. ## Life cycle - **Egg:** Laid by the queen within brood cells inside the nest; eggs hatch after a few days. - **Larva (grub):** Larvae are fed pollen and nectar by workers; they grow for several days to weeks depending on season and colony needs. - **Pupa:** Larvae pupate within cells and metamorphose into adults over several days to weeks. - **Adult:** Adults (workers, males, queens) forage for nectar and pollen, defend the nest, and carry out colony tasks; new queens mate in late summer and overwinter solitary to start new colonies the following spring. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Fed pollen mixed with nectar by workers (protein-rich diet required for growth). - Adults eat: Nectar for energy and pollen for protein; adults collect both from a wide range of flowers. - Predators of the young: Nest predators and parasites such as flies, beetles, ants, and parasitic wasps may attack brood; small mammals may raid nests. - Predators of adults: Birds, spiders, robber flies, dragonflies and predatory wasps; humans can also destroy nests unintentionally. ## Effect on plants and gardens Forages widely on many native wildflowers and garden/ornamental plants; important pollinator of crops such as blueberries and some orchard crops. Not known as a plant pest. ## Where and when to find it Look for foraging workers on a wide variety of flowers during the day; nests are often at ground level in grass tussocks, under sheds, or in old rodent burrows. - Best time: Best observed spring through early fall (roughly March to October), during warm sunny days when flowers are abundant. - Tips: Approach slowly and avoid sudden movements near a nest. To photograph, use a telephoto or macro lens from a short distance; document the yellow face and banding to help confirm ID. ## Fun facts - Bombus vosnesenskii is a common and effective pollinator in urban gardens as well as wild habitats. - Unlike honey bees, bumble bee colonies are annual: only new queens overwinter and survive to start the next year's colony. - This species readily visits a wide range of flower shapes and can perform buzz pollination (vibrating flowers) which helps release pollen from some plants like tomatoes. ## Frequently asked questions ### Are yellow-faced bumble bees dangerous? Only mildly. They are not aggressive to people unless their nest is disturbed, but they can sting, and stings can cause serious allergic reactions in susceptible people. ### Do yellow-faced bumble bees sting? Yes, individuals can sting if handled or if the nest is threatened. Stings are usually painful but not medically serious for most people. ### Why is a bumble bee in my house? They sometimes enter houses while foraging, or a queen may explore sheltered spots in late summer or fall looking for an overwintering site. Indoor bees usually want to escape and can be guided out. ### How can I get rid of a bumble bee nest? If a nest is in a low-risk location, the recommended approach is to leave it alone or contact a local beekeeper/bee removal service. If removal is necessary, use a professional who can relocate the colony; avoid killing bees because of their pollination value and potential legal protections in some areas. ### Where do yellow-faced bumble bees live? They live across western North America in meadows, coastal scrub, orchards, gardens and urban parks, nesting on or near the ground in cavities, under grass tufts, or in abandoned rodent burrows. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/57689), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombus_vosnesenskii). 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.