# Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) - Web page: https://www.funwildfacts.com/nordamerika/insect/common-eastern-bumblebee - Published: 2026-03-25 - Last updated: 2026-03-25 ## Overview The Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) is one of North America's most abundant and important pollinators. This robust bee is native to eastern North America, ranging from southern Canada down to Florida and westward to the Dakotas. It plays a crucial role in both wild ecosystems and agricultural production, particularly in tomato cultivation where it is the dominant commercial pollinator. The bee displays characteristic black and yellow coloration patterns. The queen is the largest, reaching up to 22 mm in length, while workers are smaller, typically 10-16 mm. Males are intermediate in size and can be identified by their more variable coloration and lack of a stinger. The body is covered with dense hairs that help collect pollen as the bee visits flowers. Unlike honey bees, bumblebees possess the ability to 'buzz pollinate' - they vibrate their flight muscles to shake pollen loose from flowers, making them particularly effective for certain plant species. This species has shown remarkable adaptability to human-modified environments. It thrives in gardens, parks, and agricultural landscapes as readily as in natural habitats. Common Eastern Bumblebees are known for their relatively docile temperament compared to other bumblebees, making them suitable for commercial use in greenhouses. They are active from early spring through late fall and can fly at lower temperatures than many other pollinators. Ecologically, Bombus impatiens is invaluable for biodiversity. A single colony can visit thousands of flowers per day, benefiting both wild plants and crops. Their efficient pollination contributes to the production of fruits, vegetables, and seeds. The species has also proven resilient to certain diseases affecting other bee species, though it remains vulnerable to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. ## Quick facts - Weight: 0.1–0.6 g - Length: 1–2.2 cm - Wingspan: 2–3.2 cm - Top Speed: 15 km/h - Lifespan: 0.041–0.75 yrs - Diet: Omnivore - Conservation Status: Least Concern ## Habitat Common Eastern Bumblebees are highly adaptable and found in a wide variety of habitats across eastern North America. They thrive in deciduous and coniferous forests, open meadows, farmland, gardens, and even urban environments such as parks and residential areas. They prefer areas with abundant flowering from early spring through late fall, providing them with a continuous source of nectar and pollen. Nests are typically built in pre-existing cavities underground, such as abandoned rodent burrows, beneath rocks, or in old tree roots. Sometimes they choose to nest above ground in tall grass, bird boxes, or insulation in buildings. The queen prefers locations with good drainage and protection from weather and predators. Colonies need proximity to diverse flower sources within an area of approximately 500-1,000 meters from the nest to sustain all members throughout the season. - Forest - Grassland - Farmland - Garden - Urban - Woodland - Wetland ## Seasonal Behavior The life cycle begins in early spring when overwintered queens emerge from hibernation, typically in April or May. The queen first searches for flowers to build up her energy reserves, then seeks a suitable nesting site. During May and June, she lays eggs and cares for the first workers herself. When workers emerge in June, they take over most foraging and brood care duties. The colony grows through summer, reaching its maximum size in August with 50-500 individuals. In late August and September, the colony produces new queens and males that mate. Only the newly fertilized queens survive winter by burrowing into the ground, while the rest of the colony, including the old queen and all workers, dies when cold weather arrives in October-November. ## Breeding - Incubation: 4 days - Offspring: 50–500 ## Behavior & Ecology - Activity Pattern: Diurnal - Social Behavior: Common Eastern Bumblebees are eusocial insects living in well-organized colonies with clear division of labor among queens, workers, and drones. Communication occurs through pheromones, vibrations, and tactile contact between individuals. - Migration: Resident - Population: Common and stable population in eastern North America ## Did you know? - Common Eastern Bumblebees can fly in temperatures as low as 5°C, while honey bees need at least 13°C! - A single queen starts the entire colony alone in spring - she builds the nest, lays eggs, and cares for the first larvae all by herself - These bumblebees can visit over 1,000 flowers per day when collecting nectar and pollen - They use 'buzz pollination' - a technique where they vibrate at 400 beats per second to shake pollen loose from flowers - Males (drones) have no stinger at all and therefore cannot sting, while females rarely do so unless they feel threatened - In commercial greenhouses, over 1 million colonies of this species are used annually to pollinate tomatoes - Workers can communicate with each other through dance and scent signals to indicate where good flower sources are located - A queen can live up to 9 months, but workers typically live only 2-6 weeks during the summer ## Taxonomy - Kingdom: Animalia - Class: Insecta - Order: Hymenoptera - Family: Apidae - Species: Bombus impatiens ## Image - URL: https://images.djurfakta.com/animals/ostlig-tradgardshumla/1774154569249-1.jpg - Photo: USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA - License: Public domain ## Other languages - sv: https://www.djurfakta.com/nordamerika/insect/ostlig-tradgardshumla - da: https://www.dyrefakta.com/da/nordamerika/insect/ostamerikansk-humlebi - no: https://www.dyrefakta.com/nordamerika/insect/ostamerikansk-humle