An exceptional pollinator!

Bumblebees are close relatives of honeybees: they are hymenopteran insects belonging to the family Apidae, genus Bombus. Like bees, bumblebees are social insects living in colonies ruled by a queen . They are incredibly important and super-efficient pollinators!

Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) is a bumblebee that nests in tree cavities – hence its name. It is easily recognized by its tawny thorax, black abdomen with a white tail, and its fast, noisy flight. It is one of the few bumblebee species that has adapted to urban areas .

The nest is relatively large, hosting a queen and at least 150 worker bees .

Did you know?

This species also nests in old bird nests, wall and rock crevices, attics, stables, and barns .

Photo S. Rae from Scotland, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons