Bumble Bees: Identification Guide
Quick Facts About Bumble Bees
Bumble bees are large, fuzzy bees and some of Tennessee’s most important pollinators. They’re gentle when foraging, but they will defend a nest, and nests in lawns, under decks, or near doors can put people at risk.- Size: About 1/2 to 1 inch; queens are largest
- Color: Black and yellow, fuzzy all over
- Nests: In abandoned rodent burrows, under decks and sheds, in compost, and sometimes in insulation or bird boxes
- Colony size: Usually a few dozen to a few hundred bees
- Season: Queens start nests in spring; colonies die off in fall
- Stings: Can sting more than once, but rarely do unless the nest is disturbed
How to Identify Bumble Bees
They’re larger and fuzzier than honey bees, with a deep buzz and a round, chunky body.Bumble Bees vs. Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees look similar, but their abdomen is shiny black and nearly hairless, and they drill into wood. Bumble bees are fuzzy all over and nest in the ground or in cavities. See our carpenter bee guide.
Where Bumble Bees Nest
- Old rodent burrows in lawns and landscape beds
- Under decks, porches, sheds, and patio stones
- In compost piles, brush, and grass clumps
- In wall voids, attic insulation, and bird boxes
Why Bumble Bees Matter
Bumble bees pollinate many garden crops, including tomatoes, peppers, and blueberries, and they work in cooler weather than many other bees. Some bumble bee species have declined sharply, so when a nest isn’t causing a problem, leaving it alone until it dies off in fall is often the best choice.
Bumble Bee Stings
- What happens: Sharp pain, then redness, swelling, and itching around the sting. Swelling can spread several inches and last a few days.
- First aid: Move away from the nest. Scrape out a honey bee stinger with a fingernail or card, wash the area, apply a cold compress, and elevate it. An antihistamine can help with itching.
- Call 911: For trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips, or throat, hives spreading over the body, dizziness, or fainting. Use an epinephrine auto-injector if one has been prescribed.
- Also get care: For many stings at once, a sting inside the mouth or throat, or a sting that shows signs of infection.
When to Remove a Bumble Bee Nest
Consider removal if the nest is in a high-traffic spot, near a door, in a lawn you need to mow, inside a wall, or if someone in your home is allergic. Otherwise, marking the area and waiting until fall is a reasonable option. See our bee removal service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do bumble bees sting?
They can sting more than once, but they rarely sting unless their nest is disturbed.
Where do bumble bees nest?
In old rodent burrows, under decks and sheds, in compost and brush, and sometimes in walls or insulation.
Should I kill a bumble bee nest?
If it isn’t in a risky spot, leaving it alone is often best. Colonies die off naturally in fall. Remove it if it’s near doors, in high-traffic areas, or if anyone is allergic.
How do I tell a bumble bee from a carpenter bee?
Bumble bees are fuzzy all over. Carpenter bees have a shiny, mostly hairless black abdomen and drill into wood.
Do bumble bees come back to the same nest?
No. The colony dies in fall and new queens start new nests in spring, though they may choose a similar spot.
