A Closer Look At The Bumble Bee
The bumble bee is a hairy, round bee that most of us are familiar with. They have a distinctively deep buzz when they are lazily flying around your yard and garden. Some people often confuse the bumble bee with it's cousin, the honey bee. There are, however, many differences that separate them. Below we will take a look at some of them.
Appearance
If you take the time to examine the bumble bee, you'll find that it really looks nothing like a honey bee. The shape of a honey bee's body is similar to that of a wasp, while the bumble bee has a round body. It is also known for it's hairy or fuzzy appearance. Bumble bees are also usually black and yellow in color, similar to that of the carpenter bee. The two are often confused because of their appearance.
Other Differences
Bumble bees are similar to honey bees in that a hive will consist of a queen, female worker bees, and male drones, who are responsible for mating with the queen. They do produce honey, but in very small amounts, so they are not used for commercial honey production. Another similarity is that only the females possess stingers.
One other major difference is that the bumble bee is much less aggressive than the honey bee. They almost never sting people, unless they are directly threatened. If you do hear that loud, deep buzz of a bumble bee flying around your head, just wait a moment and they will move on. Trying to swat them away may make them think you are trying to attack them. These bees are only interested in collecting enough honey to raise their young. If you do not threaten them, they have no interest in harming you. Despite their sometimes intimidating appearance, they are really quite harmless.
They also tend to live in fairly small nests, which are usually in the ground. For this reason, they will not swarm like some other types of bees. Another interesting fact about the bumble bee is that they can thrive in colder climates than most bees. This is because of their furry bodies and the unique ability they have to regulate their body temperature.
Finally, these harmless pollinators are great to have living around your garden. They pose no threat to you and your family, and they are great for your flowers. If you do find them nesting on your property, you won't regret letting them stay.
