Two-spotted Bumble Bee
Bombus bimaculatus
What it is
The two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus) is a species of social bumble bee found in the eastern half of the United States and the adjacent south-eastern part of Canada. In older literature this bee is often referred to as Bremus bimaculatus, Bremus being a synonym for Bombus. The bee's common name comes from the two yellow spots on its abdomen. Unlike many of the other species of bee in the genus Bombus, B. bimaculatus is not...
Where and when to find it
- Habitat
- You can find Two-spotted Bumble Bees in gardens, forests, fields, and even cities in the eastern half of the US.
- How to find it
- Look for them on a variety of flowers during sunny days. They might have two yellow spots on their abdomen.
- Best time of day
- Daytime, from spring to fall.
How it lives
- What it eats
- Nectar and pollen from flowers
- What eats it
- Birds, spiders, predatory insects
Worth knowing
- They can 'buzz pollinate' certain flowers, like tomatoes.
- The queen bee starts a new colony each spring.
- They are important pollinators for many wild plants.
- They are fairly common in many urban and suburban areas.
- Different bumble bee species prefer different kinds of flowers.
- They have powerful flight muscles that help them fly even in cool weather.
Why it matters
The Two-spotted Bumble Bee helps many plants make fruits and seeds by moving pollen. This is important for our food and for other wildlife.