Tree Bumblebee Facts
- This beautiful Arthropod is most typically referred to by the common name of the Tree Bumblebee across the entirety of its native range. The insect does have at least one other general title, though. That’s the interesting term of new garden bumblebee.
- Inside of the scientific community, however, the creature perhaps more frequently goes by yet another tag. Fortunately, that’s a relatively simple one for the layperson to pronounce. That’s because it holds the technical moniker Bombus hypnorum.
- The invertebrate received that specific designation due to the efforts of Carl Linnaeus. The eminent Swedish researcher accomplished the first recognition of it as a separate and distinct species. He managed that scientifically noteworthy deed in 1758.
- It’s possibly most well known among entomologists due to one evolutionary pattern. The small animal generally chooses to inhabit regions that others of its kind avoid. The bumblebee thus fills an environmental niche that would otherwise be void.
- Fortunately, the amazing Tree Bumblebee appears to be maintaining a population base that’s both stable and sufficient. That pleasant state also seems to hold true throughut its territory. The IUCN therefore presently lists it as Least Concern on its Red List.
- The wonder of Nature nevertheless still faces several potential threats to its continued existence as a species. In this, it’s simply following a pattern common to all life on this planet. It’s now facing the perils posed by habitat loss and ongoing climate change.
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Tree Bumblebee Physical Description
The remarkable Tree Bumblebee typically draws attention from those fortunate enough to notice one in the wild. Like most of its kindred around the world, however, it usually does so for its appearance more than for size. Yet, in this manner, it distinguishes itself well.
As with virtually all bees, it displays a different type of the physiological characteristic known as sexual dimorphism. The species evolved as divided into three castes. Queens develop as larger than either males or workers. In fact, the difference is often quite noticeable.
The mighty queens of each colony achieve the greatest dimensions, by far. This varies, sometimes greatly, among individuals, though. But, overall, these average a total body length of approximately 0.63 – 0.87 in (1.6 – 2.2 cm). Though rare, some examples exceed even this.
Members of the worker class, however, remain much smaller. Individuals of this class only reach mean lengths measuring about 0.4 – 0.47 in (1.0 – 1.2 cm). Males, meanwhile, vary in size, but generally achieve dimensions slightly greater than that of the workers.
Other differences serve to further distinguish the castes of the Tree Bumblebee. The males, for one, display a chunkier shape than the others. Queens and drones, however, typically have sharper ends to their abdomens, as well as somewhat shorter antennae.
Yet, it’s the coloring of this insect that most catches the eye. The thorax of the species presents a covering of hair with a gorgeous ginger shade. Its abdomen, though, displays black hair. But, that on the tail manifests a dazzling white hue, making for an amazing contrast.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hymenoptera
- Family: Apidae
- Genus: Bombus
- Species: B. hypnorum
Tree Bumblebee Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
The visually appealing Tree Bumblebee evolved as native to a relatively large expanse of the surface of the earth. The full extent of that zone of habitation, in fact, might surprise some people. That’s true since it developed as endemic to most of Europe and northern Asia.
In Europe, the biological wonder natively inhabits only the continental regions. That natural territorial range additionally reaches as far north as northern France. Elsewhere, though, the creature developed natively as far east as the Kamchatka Peninsula, in Russia.
The awesome invertebrate displays decidedly unique preferences regarding where it chooses to live. These all lie within temperate climates, to be certain, however. Yet, within such conditions, the bumblebee makes its home in a range of truly surprising locations.
It most frequently appears in forests, usually deciduous one’s. In those regions where trees don’t appear in abundance, though, it seeks out an unusual alternative. In such settings, it resides in human residences! There, it makes its nest in almost any available hole it can find.
Workers of the amazing Tree Bumblebee forage for pollen and nectar. Once acquired, they return with this to the nest. Intriguingly, the species seems to be especially attracted to plants with downward-facing blooms, like comfrey. Yet, it also visits other plants as well.
It’s generally observed between the months of March and July, but sometimes does remain active longer. Individuals are also extremely active, moving rapidly from plant to plant. Nest size varies, of course, but rarely exceeds more than a few hundred individuals.
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