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Bumble Bee
Bumble Bee Facts
| Kingdom: Five groups that classify all living things | Animalia |
| Phylum: A group of animals within the animal kingdom | Arthropoda |
| Class: A group of animals within a pylum | Insecta |
| Order: A group of animals within a class | Hymenoptera |
| Family: A group of animals within an order | Apidae |
| Genus: A group of animals within a family | Bombus |
| Common Name: Most widely used name for this species | Bumble Bee |
| Scientific Name: The name of the animal in science | Bombus |
| Location: The place where something is found | Northern Hemisphere |
| Diet: What kind of foods the animal eats | Herbivore |
| Size: How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is | 1.9-3.8cm (0.75-1.5in) |
| Number Of Species: The total number of recorded species | 250 |
| Average Lifespan: The average time the animal lives for | 1 year |
| Conservation Status: The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct | Threatened |
| Colour: The colour of the animal's coat or markings | Yellow, Black, Orange |
| Skin Type: The protective layer of the animal | Hair |
| Favourite Food: The preferred food of this animal | Nectar |
| Habitat: The specific area where the animal lives | Quiet forests and pastures |
| Average Litter Size: The average number of babies born at once | 200 |
| Main Prey: The food that the animal gains energy from | Nectar, Pollen, Honey |
| Predators: Other animals that hunt and eat the animal | Bats, Frogs, Skunks |
| Special Features: Characteristics unique to this animal | Black and yellow body and sting on tail of the female |
Bumble Bee Location
Bumble Bee
The bumble bee is the most common type of bee with around 250 different species of the bumble bee found around the world.
Despite the fact that the bumble bee can be found in many countries, it is indigenous to the Northern Hemisphere, breeding more successfully in the more temperate climates.
The bumble bee is best known for having a sting on its tail, which the bumble bee uses to protect itself from danger. Once the bumble bee has stung something with its sting, the sting breaks off and the bumble bee generally dies. Despite common belief, not every bumble bee has a sting, in fact, the male bumble bees (known as drones) do not have a sting at all. Only the female bumble bee has a sting on its tail.
One of the main causes of the decline of the bumble bee populations is the fact that the places where the bumble bees nest are being disturbed often destroying the bumble bee's nest in the process.
The bumble bee is a herbivorous animal feeding primarily on nectar. Bumble bees also eat pollen and honey when there is no nectar available. Bumble bees have numerous natural predators including birds, larger insects and amphibians such as frogs and newts.
The queen bumble bee is the one who lays the eggs. She lays her eggs in a round-shaped mound that she then seals with wax. When the baby bumbles bees (larvae) hatch they are forced to eat their way out of their sealed dome.
Bumble bees are known to play a valuable part in the eco-system as around 1/3 of what humans eat is pollinated by bees. It is estimated that around 80% of the world's crop species are dependent on the pollination by bees to survive.
Sadly due to high pollution levels and habitat loss, the bumble bee populations are rapidly declining with the bumble bee being one of the few insects that is classed as being threatened with extinction. Human beings do not give bees the respect they deserve, as bumble bees are vital to the survival of plants which are in turn vital to the survival of humans.
View all 66 animals that start with B.
Related Animals
Bumble Bee Translations
Земна пчела
Borinot
Čmelák
Humlebier
Hummeln
bumblebee
Kimalane
Abejorro
Burdo
Bourdon
Bumbari
Hommels
マルハナバチ属
Humler
Trzmiel
Mamangaba
Kimalaiset
Humlor
大黃蜂
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First Published: 12th November 2008, Last Updated: 8th November 2019
1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 12 Nov 2008]
2. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2011]
3. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 12 Nov 2008]
4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2009]
5. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 12 Nov 2008]