Sonoran Bumble Bee
Physical Features
Large bees growing 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches long, yellow and black, and hairy. Their hairy legs are used to collect and carry pollen to the hive.
Life Cycle
Complete metamorphosis
The queen places pollen in the middle of the nest in which she lays her eggs, and then she seals it with a wax covering. She also makes a honeypot, a wax cup filled with nectar, which she feeds from while waiting for the larvae to emerge. The larvae feed on the pollen inside their wax covering, and then the queen continues to feed them through an opening in the wax covering. The larvae spin cocoons when they are ready, and then emerge in their adult form. At the end of summer, the queen produces unfertilized eggs that develop into drones. Females produced during this time become new queens. The drones and workers die and the new, mated queens fly to a new nest site.
Habits
- Diet: Flower nectar.
- Activity: Active in the springtime and early Fall. Travel in small colonies from a few dozen to several hundred.
- Preferred Climate: Temperate climates
- Defense: Loud buzzing sound and painful stings.
- Cautions: Painful stings
- Home Invasion: Most nest in or near the ground in previously occupied burrows or crevices, but will occupy empty cavities in home structures. This includes under decks or patios, attics, stairways or in eaves of the home. They may also take harbor in woodpiles, leaf piles, or landscaping timber.
Helpful Hints for Control
- Clear debris that could be potential harboring sites.
- If activity is found call for service.
Interesting Fact
Symptoms
Bee stings can produce different reactions, ranging from temporary pain and discomfort to a severe allergic reaction. Having one type of reaction doesn’t mean you’ll always have the same reaction every time you’re stung. Bee stings are minor and usually include an instant, sharp pain at the sting site. A small, white spot where the stinger punctured the skin will appear with slight swelling around the area. In most cases, the pain will disappear within a few hours. Sometimes anaphylaxis can occur, which is a severe allergic reaction. This includes hives, pale skin, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat and tongue, a weak and rapid pulse, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
