Species Profile: Bumblebee

Common Name: Bumblebee
Scientific Name: Bombus spp. (notably Bombus pensylvanicus in Central Texas)

Location: Native bumblebees are commonly found in open meadows, prairies, parks, gardens, and urban greenspaces throughout Central Texas. They prefer areas with abundant flowering plants and undisturbed ground for nesting.

Mating Habits: New queens emerge in late summer or fall, mate with males, and then overwinter in soil or leaf litter. Colonies are founded in spring by a single queen, which lays eggs that hatch into workers.

Seasonal Habits / Migratory Patterns: Bumblebees are not migratory. Queens emerge in spring to begin new colonies. Workers forage from spring through fall, and new queens leave the nest in late summer or fall.

Ecological Relevance: Bumblebees are vital pollinators of both native plants and crops. Their large bodies and “buzz pollination” technique make them especially effective for certain flowers. They are keystone species in prairie ecosystems.

Interesting Facts:

• Use a unique vibration technique (“buzz pollination”) to release pollen.

• Can regulate their body temperature, allowing them to forage in cooler conditions.

• Some species are declining due to habitat loss, pesticides, and disease.

Native Plant Associations: Bumblebees forage on native wildflowers such as purple coneflower (Echinacea), milkweed (Asclepias spp.), bee balm (Monarda spp.), and sunflowers (Helianthus spp.).

Conservation Note: Protecting nesting habitat (undisturbed ground, tall grasses), planting a diversity of native flowers, and avoiding pesticides are key steps in supporting native bumblebee populations in Central Texas.