What does a bumble bee do?

Bumblebees gather nectar to add to the stores in the nest, and pollen to feed their young. They forage using colour and spatial relationships to identify flowers to feed from. Some bumblebees rob nectar, making a hole near the base of a flower to access the nectar while avoiding pollen transfer. read more

The word "bumblebee" is a compound of "bumble" + "bee" — "bumble" meaning to hum, buzz, drone, or move ineptly or flounderingly. The generic name Bombus, assigned by Pierre André Latreille in 1802, is derived from the Latin word for a buzzing or humming sound. read more

In one sense, it could be said that bumblebees have their own version of honey – but it is not really honey exactly. What they have is nectar stores for food, which are needed for a short period of time, and in comparison with honey bees, bumblebees store only a tiny amount. read more

Unlike carpenter bees, a species that property owners often confuse with bumblebees, they do not damage wood or other structural components. Reproduction & Life Cycle The bumblebee goes through a complete metamorphosis and includes eggs, larvae (grub), pupae and adults. read more