Bombus impatiens
Abundant native bee with a yellow thorax and black abdomen. A generalist pollinator active from early spring through late autumn.
Seasonal Activity
Diet
Nectar and pollen
Lifecycle
Annual colony cycle. Overwintered queens emerge in early spring (March-April) and establish nests underground, often in abandoned rodent burrows. Workers emerge in late spring. Colonies peak at 200-400 workers by late summer. New queens and males are produced in late summer/early fall. Newly mated queens overwinter underground. Colonies die off by late autumn.
Ecology
Pollinates
- Asclepias tuberosaspecies
- Amelanchier canadensisspecies
- Amelanchier laevisspecies
- Monarda fistulosa
- Penstemon digitalis
- Pycnanthemum incanumspecies
- Gentiana andrewsiispecies
- Stylophorum diphyllumspecies
- Liatris spicataspecies
- Cornus sericeaspecies
- Rosa setigeraspecies
- Tiarella cordifoliaspecies
- Solidago nemoralisspecies
- Allium cernuumspecies
- Geum triflorumspecies
- Senna hebecarpaspecies
- Antennaria neglectaspecies
- Aquilegia canadensisspecies
- Solidago flexicaulisspecies
Details
Description
The Common Eastern Bumble Bee is one of Ontario's most abundant and recognizable native bee species. Queens are 17-21 mm long, workers 8-16 mm, and males 12-17 mm. The thorax is yellow, and the abdomen is black except for the first segment which is yellow. A generalist pollinator found in a wide range of habitats across eastern North America.
Lifecycle
Annual social colonies follow the typical bumble bee lifecycle:
- Overwintered queens emerge March-April
- Queens forage and establish nests underground (often in old rodent burrows)
- First workers emerge May-June
- Colony grows through summer to 200-400 individuals
- New queens and males produced August-September
- Colony dies off; new queens enter diapause underground
Ecology
A long-tongued bee capable of pollinating deep-corolla flowers, but will also visit a very wide range of plant species. Particularly important for:
- Early-season pollination (queens active as early as March)
- Buzz pollination of plants with poricidal anthers (e.g., Solanum)
- Pollination of native wildflowers and agricultural crops
Unlike honey bees, bumble bees can forage in cooler temperatures and lower light conditions, making them critical early-season and late-season pollinators.
Host Plants
Not a specialist; generalist forager. Important nectar and pollen sources include:
- Early: Amelanchier (serviceberry), Salix (willow), Vaccinium (blueberry)
- Mid-season: Asclepias (milkweed), Monarda (bee balm), Echinacea (coneflower)
- Late: Symphyotrichum (asters), Solidago (goldenrods)
Habitat
Wide habitat range including meadows, woodland edges, gardens, agricultural fields, and urban areas. Nests are established underground, often in abandoned small mammal burrows. Requires undisturbed ground for overwintering queens.