The Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) can be found throughout the eastern United States and southern Canada -- thriving in rural, suburban and urban environments.
Bumblebees are colonial bees, living in nests in the ground. Colonies are made up of a queen, workers and drones (males). First year queens over-winter in a hibernacula -- the rest of the colony (including the old queen) died during the previous fall. In the spring, the new queen awakes to start the colony anew.
(If you have ever dug into a compost pile early in the spring, you may have found sleeping bumblebee queens. They will actually shiver in an attempt to warm up!)
Bumblebees are efficient feeders of flower nectar and pollen. And, they are incredibly important as pollinators.
While usually mild mannered if going about their business undisturbed, bumblebees do have the ability to sting (multiple times).
Their numbers, like many other bee species, are in decline due to habitat loss, pesticides and global climate change.
