Bumblebees

Bumblebees are large, fuzzy bees with round bodies. They are usually black and yellow. Bumblebees are important pollinators that help flowers and crops grow. They can fly in colder weather than most other bees.

Buzz Pollination

Bumblebees have a special trick called buzz pollination. They grab a flower and vibrate their wings very fast. This shakes loose pollen that other bees cannot reach. Tomatoes, blueberries, and peppers all depend on buzz pollination.

Bumblebee Colonies

Bumblebees live in small colonies of 50 to 500 bees. They build their nests in the ground, often in old mouse burrows. Only the queen survives the winter. In spring, she starts a brand new colony all by herself.

Fun Facts

• Bumblebees can fly in temperatures as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
• A bumblebee's wings beat about 130 times per second.
• Bumblebees can remember which flowers they have already visited.

Did You Know?

Scientists once thought bumblebees should not be able to fly because of their big bodies and small wings. But bumblebees create tiny whirlwinds with their wings that give them extra lift!