Pest Pro Services
Saint Peters, Missouri 63376
(636) 240-8848 or (314) 808-2591
www.pestproservices.net
Harold@pestproservices.net
Commercial and Residential Pest Control
Service St. Louis
and the Surrounding Areas
CALL US ANYTIME
Bumble Bee
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.
There are over 200 types of Bumble bees in the world. Fifty different types can be found in North America. Each different species will have its own preference to types of nectar and prefers different flowers.
The bumble bee is an important, beneficial insect. They pollinate plants and flowers as they forage for food. To gardeners, it is a welcome sight to see these large, flying insects carrying large loads of pollen, flying into and around their flower beds and gardens. While busy searching for food (and at the same time, pollinating plants) bumble bees are rarely a problem when in close proximity to humans. They will actually (in most cases) go out of their way to avoid human contact. Bumble bees will, however, defend themselves if they sense that they are cornered and cannot escape. Most of the time they will fly away from danger but will sting if they are under duress.
The queen bumble bee comes out of hibernation every spring to find a new spot to build her nest and start a new colony. This queen bee was fertilized the previous season and has managed to live through the winter months.
The same nesting spot (from previous seasons) are rarely used. A suitable place for nesting is usually on the ground, beneath a flat object. An old mouse hole or similar hole in the ground is preferred if it is underneath an old tarp, flat stone or manmade objects such as a deck. The hole chosen by the queen bee is first padded by pieces of vegetation such as dry grass or moss.
Bumble bees are often first noticed (in the area of the nest) when this activity of guarding the nest and pollen collecting begins. The worker bees are focused only on their job and will not go out of their way to sting people. It is only if people get too close to their nest or threaten them when bumble bees will sting. Bumble bees do not die after stinging, as do some other stinging insects.
Towards late summer, the queen will start to produce drones and young queens. The young queens are fertilized by the drones, and then fly off to hibernate. Hibernation usually takes place in dry protected areas such as loose bark. The colony's remaining drones and workers stay in the colony and die during the winter season. The young queens start new colonies in the spring of the year. As mentioned above, bumble bees do not use the same nest though they may nest in an area close by to the original bee nest.
There are over 200 types of Bumble bees in the world. Fifty different types can be found in North America. Each different species will have its own preference to types of nectar and prefers different flowers.
The bumble bee is an important, beneficial insect. They pollinate plants and flowers as they forage for food. To gardeners, it is a welcome sight to see these large, flying insects carrying large loads of pollen, flying into and around their flower beds and gardens. While busy searching for food (and at the same time, pollinating plants) bumble bees are rarely a problem when in close proximity to humans. They will actually (in most cases) go out of their way to avoid human contact. Bumble bees will, however, defend themselves if they sense that they are cornered and cannot escape. Most of the time they will fly away from danger but will sting if they are under duress.
The queen bumble bee comes out of hibernation every spring to find a new spot to build her nest and start a new colony. This queen bee was fertilized the previous season and has managed to live through the winter months.
The same nesting spot (from previous seasons) are rarely used. A suitable place for nesting is usually on the ground, beneath a flat object. An old mouse hole or similar hole in the ground is preferred if it is underneath an old tarp, flat stone or manmade objects such as a deck. The hole chosen by the queen bee is first padded by pieces of vegetation such as dry grass or moss.
Bumble bees are often first noticed (in the area of the nest) when this activity of guarding the nest and pollen collecting begins. The worker bees are focused only on their job and will not go out of their way to sting people. It is only if people get too close to their nest or threaten them when bumble bees will sting. Bumble bees do not die after stinging, as do some other stinging insects.
Towards late summer, the queen will start to produce drones and young queens. The young queens are fertilized by the drones, and then fly off to hibernate. Hibernation usually takes place in dry protected areas such as loose bark. The colony's remaining drones and workers stay in the colony and die during the winter season. The young queens start new colonies in the spring of the year. As mentioned above, bumble bees do not use the same nest though they may nest in an area close by to the original bee nest.
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