Do bumble bees sting or bite?

Bumble bees are not as defensive as honey bees, and must be provoked before they will attack. Attacks typically occur near the hive, as the bee will defend the hive and its stores of pollen. If a bumble bee is buzzing near you, it may be a male carpenter bee or a worker bee attracted to something sugary. read more

Main frequently asked questions page Home - Body - Species - Lifecycle - Help bumblebees - Behaviour - Info. /Links - FAQ On this page are lists of questions and links to answers about the body - behaviour - nests - species and names. read more

A bumble bee sting, some say, is typically less painful than the sting of a wasp or honey bee. However, a sting can be dangerous if it occurs on the head and neck, or if the individual is allergic to the venom. Unlike honey bees, bumble bees do not leave behind a venom sac when they sting, so they may not inject as much venom into the victim. read more

Female bumblebees can sting repeatedly, but generally ignore humans and other animals. Cuckoo bumblebees do not make nests; their queens aggressively invade the nests of other bumblebee species, kill the resident queens and then lay their own eggs, which are cared for by the resident workers. read more