What is special about Bumblebees?

There are important pollinators of wild flowering plants and crops. As generalist foragers, they do not depend on any one flower type. However, some plants do rely on bumblebees to achieve pollination. Loss of bumblebees can have far ranging ecological impacts due to their role as pollinators.

Bumblebees harvest nectar and pollen from flowering plants. They live in smaller groups than honey bees and do not tend to swarm.

Bumblebees hibernate underground. They scent mark flowers they have visited. Bumblebees will not die if they use their sting, whereas honey bees will.