| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Size | ¾” – 1” |
| Body | Large, fuzzy & yellow |
| Legs | 6 |
| Antennae | Yes |
| Stinger | Queen and female workers do, but males do not. It is smooth and can be used more than once |
Habitat:
- Prefer to nest in the ground with the entire, large colony using a single hole for an entrance
- They can nest in soffits or attics as well and are often seen around decks or patios
Habits:
- Males do not have a stinger but they will chase intruders as they defend their nests
- They are often clumsy-looking as they fly
- The stinger on the females is smooth and is very painful
- One of the best pollinators
With more than 255 species of Bumblebees worldwide, these large insects covered in soft hair (long branched setae) are one of the more beneficial pollinators you can find in your garden. Their short, stubby wings beat at least 130 times per second causing flowers to vibrate and release pollen. This is called buzz pollination and helps plants produce more fruits.
Bumblebee Habitat
Bumblebee queens hibernate in the soil and are the only ones to survive the winter. Carefully choosing the location that will not warm up too early in the spring, the queen will emerge in the spring and look for a new site to begin a new colony.
Bumblebee nests are constructed out of mud or clay. They prefer to choose dark, underground tunnels as their nesting spot, but can nest above ground in trees, soffits, rocks, decks, patios, or eaves of roofs. Typically, Bumblebee colonies consist of one dominant queen bee and between 50 and 400 workers bees.
Behaviors & Dangers
Bumblebees are very protective of their nests and have been known to chase invaders for long distances. While they are aggressive in their defense of the nest, male Bumblebees do not have a stinger. The females, however, have a smooth stinger and can sting more than once. It is considered to be one of the most painful stings.
What To Do If You Have A Bumblebee Nest
We do not like to kill Bumblebees unless we must. They are great pollinators and are extremely important to the environment, so if they are not bothering you then you should not bother them. If you are seeing aggressive behavior or have a nest on or in your home reach out to The Bug Man and Queen Bee and we will treat the nest and remove the threat.
When you call, our friendly office staff will give you an estimate right over the phone and get you scheduled for a Bumblebee removal as soon as possible, sometimes the next day! As a family-owned, local company, we take great pride in meeting, and exceeding our Milwaukee-area customers’ expectations. Contact us today for your free estimate!