The Fascinating Life of A Bumble Bee

Class: Insecta

Order: Hymenoptera

Family: Apidae

Genus species: Bombus

Sub species: Apinae

Size: The typical size of a Bumblebee range from 3/4 inch to 1 1/2 inch.

Weight: It depends, of course, on whether the bee is full of nectar and pollen, as at the end of a foraging bout, or just leaving the hive. The range is between 100 and 350 mg.

Life span: The average worker's adult life lasts about four weeks. In one study it was found that 29% of the workers died every 5 days.

Description: The "Bumble Bee" is a big, hairy, black and yellow bee whose size can range from 3/4 inch to 1 1/2 inch. This insect is often mistaken for a carpenter bee, which closely resembles the bumble bee in appearance. Carpenter bees have a shiny and smooth abdomen as opposed to the fuzzy abdomen seen on a bumble bee.

Did you know that Bumblebee does not have ears, however they can feel the vibrations of sounds through wood and other materials?

Or how about their family name is Bombus? One of my favourite Latin names is for the Great Yellow Bumblebee -Bombus distinguendus, closely followed by the Red-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus lapidarius.

The world's first bumblebee sanctuary was established at Vane Farm in the Loch Leven National Nature Preserve in Scotland in 2008.

According to 20th century folklore, the laws of aerodynamics prove that the bumblebee should be incapable of flight, as it does not have the capacity (in terms of wing size or beats per second) to achieve flight with the degree of wing loading necessary. Not being aware of scientists 'proving' it cannot fly, the bumblebee succeeds under "the power of its own ignorance".

Bumblebee, A Closer Look
Photo by © AK Foto

Bumblebees need somewhere to nest, forage, mate and hibernate. One area may do for all of these things, but it will be different parts and features of that area.

1. Plant flowers preferred by bees.

• Early Flowers
Such as spring flowering heathers, crocuses, primroses, aubrieta, comfrey, poppies any flowering currants and vetches and peas are very useful. They will also gather pollen from hazels and willow catkins and early flowering fruit trees.

• Summer Flowers
Such as Indian balsam, Phacalia, viper's bugloss, geraniums, aquilegia, lupins, campanulas, as well as brambles, raspberry, strawberry and other soft fruits, and many herbs such as the different varieties of thyme and borage. Old-fashioned roses provide a good source of pollen, you can hear them gathering pollen from some flowers as they sonicate the anthers to dislodge the pollen.

• Late Flowers
Such as Lavenders and salvias are useful later in the year, actually most of the herbs used by cooks are used by bumblebees. Honeysuckle is also very valuable as it provides a rich supply of nectar.

2. Supplement nectar during the early days.

3. Do not spray insecticide.
Insecticide is indiscriminate and kills all insects as well as spiders and many other useful invertebrates, don't use it if you can help it. Never kill ladybirds or lacewings as they are aphid eating machines. Most gardeners know what the adults of these insects look like, but it is the larva that eat the most.

4. If you are a bird lover you may wish to forgo spraying for two very simple reasons.
• Many garden birds eat insects.
• If there are no insects in your garden you won't attract insect eating birds.

5. Hibernation sites

A First of Bumble Bee
Photo by by Alex Hedger
Information Courtesy of BumbleBee.org

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