Pest Library
Bumble Bee
Bumble bees are large, densely fuzzy black-and-yellow bees — including a hairy abdomen, which is the quickest way to separate them from the shiny-bodied carpenter bee. Colonies are small, usually under a few hundred bees, and are built in ground cavities, old rodent burrows, insulation or under sheds and decks.
Profile
- Scientific name
- Bombus spp.
- Identification
- Round, very hairy body with yellow and black bands, hairy abdomen, loud low-pitched flight.
- Typical size
- Workers about 1/2 to 1 inch.
- Behavior
- Generally docile while foraging but will defend a nest that is disturbed, and can sting more than once.
- Habitat
- Ground cavities, mulch piles, under sheds and decks, wall insulation.
- Diet
- Nectar and pollen.
- Lifecycle
- Annual colonies started by an overwintered queen; nests are abandoned by winter.
- Why it matters
- Bumble bees are valuable pollinators. Nests near doorways, play areas or walkways are a sting concern, especially for anyone with a sting allergy.
- DIY considerations
- Where a nest is away from foot traffic, leaving it alone until fall is usually the best option.
- Professional considerations
- We identify bumble bees and, because they are beneficial pollinators, generally recommend avoidance and exclusion for next season rather than treatment. Nests in high-traffic areas are evaluated case by case.
Signs of activity
- Bees entering a small ground opening or gap under a shed or deck
- Loud, low-pitched flight around a specific spot in the yard
- Activity that ends naturally in late fall
Prevention
- Seal gaps under sheds, decks and thresholds before spring
- Reduce unused mulch and debris piles near walkways and play areas
- Mark and avoid a known nest until the colony dies out in fall
Sources
Related information
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