Common Eastern Bumble Bee

Bombus impatiens, the common eastern bumble bee, is the most commonly encountered bumblebee across much of eastern North America.

Latin name 

Bombus impatiens

Size: 15-25mm

Flight season: March-November

Flower preferences

Feeds on a variety of flowers, including clovers, asters, goldenrods, and thistles 

Habitat 

Parks, gardens, fields, and meadows

Interesting facts

They are social bees that live in colonies and make their nests underground, often in old rodent holes or burrows. The nests of B. impatiens do not have a predictable pattern and lay egg clumps all over inside the nest instead of having one brood area.

 

 

PHOTO by Arsilia Derenzo 

 

Learn more about the Eastern Bumble Bee at iNaturalist.org or NWF.org

Read more of our Meet the Pollinators posts HERE