Kingdom : Animalia Class : Insecta Family : Apidae Scientific Name : Bombus Size : 1.9 - 3.8cm (0.75 - 1.5in) Average Life Span : 1 year Colour : Yellow, Black, Orange Skin Type : Hair Special Features : Black and yellow body and sting on tail of the female
- Bumble Bees are the most common type of bees found across the northern hemisphere.
- There are around 250 species of bumble bee.
- They are known to have a sting on their tail to protect them from danger.
- Interestingly, the male bumble bees called Drones do not have a sting at all.
- Once the bumble bee stings, it’s sting breaks and it generally dies.
- They are herbivores feeding mainly on nectar and occasionally on pollens and honey.
- They have numerous natural predators in birds, large insects, frogs and newts.
- The Queen bumble bee alone lays eggs and seals them with wax.
- The larvae, after hatching from eggs, are forced to eat their way out of the wax.
- Around 80% of the world’s crops are dependent on bees for pollination.
- They are extremely important and valuable in the ecosystem.
- Habitat loss and increasing pollution have threatened the bumble bees with extinction.