Insect Order (Hymenoptera)
HYMENOPTERA
Order Hymenoptera encompasses Ants, Bees, and Wasps. About 18,000 types reside in North Amerca (excluding Mexico). Like other insects, they have chewing mouth parts for breaking down food sources. Ants can deliver bites through their mandibles while Bees and Wasps sting to repel threats and subdue prey. The order typically operates during the warm summer months across Tennessee. Bees are an utterly important part of the state's ecosystem, eating pollen and nectar to help raise their young - Bee by-products are essential in many human products and their pollinating action serves many other purposes. While Bees and Wasps live in carefully constructed nests, the social Ant survives in colony made up of networked tunnels. The furry Bumble Bee is not aggressive by nature though disturbing an in-ground nest of Yellow Jacket wasps will be a mistake made only once!
Taxonomy
Other Names: "Bumble Bee"
The Taxonomic Breakdown is the scientific way to categorize a partocular insect species from its largest group (Animalia) to its smallest (variable). The Genus and Species categorizations taken together make up the species' scientific name shown above, in this case Bombus pensylvanicus.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidea
Genus: Bombus
Species: pensylvanicus
Characteristics
Antenna: Antenna are noticeably apparent on this insect.
Hive / Colony: Known to have a very social existence.
Helpful: Known for its generally helpful-to-human qualities.
Pollinator: A known pollinator of flowers / plants.
Striped / Banded: Noticeable stripes or banding pattern.
Winged: Has wings to hop or fly over distance.
Description
The American Bumble Bee is also known by these other names:
Bumble Bee
The American Bumble Bee has been identified by site users by the following descriptors:
yellow   black   striped   fuzzy   hairy   soft   antenna   winged   wings   flying   pollinator   harden   helpful   friendly   hive   nest
Sighting Guide
The general likelihood of encountering this insect based on a given month of the year in the state of Tennessee. Generally, the best sighting months are June through August with peak occurring in July.
Size
Below is a representation of the 'smallest-small' and 'largest-large' sizes commonly associated with the American Bumble Bee. Due to monitor differences, sizes may not be exact on your particular screen. Conversions to millimeters are provided for convenience.
Lowest-Low:
0.39 inches
(10 mm)
Highest-High:
0.91 inches
(23 mm)
Identifying Colors
Below you will find the colors most commonly associated with the American Bumble Bee. Both Primary and Secondary colors are represented in the showcase. Due to monitor differences, colors may not be exact representations.
Tennessee County Reach
The American Bumble Bee can be found in the following Tennessee counties:
Anderson; Bedford; Benton; Bledsoe; Blount; Bradley; Campbell; Cannon; Carroll; Carter; Cheatham; Chester; Claiborne; Clay; Cocke; Coffee; Crockett; Cumberland; Davidson; De Kalb; Decatur; Dickson; Dyer; Fayette; Fentress; Franklin; Gibson; Giles; Grainger; Greene; Grundy; Hamblen; Hamilton; Hancock; Hardeman; Hardin; Hawkins; Haywood; Henderson; Henry; Hickman; Houston; Humphreys; Jackson; Jefferson; Johnson; Knox; Lake; Lauderdale; Lawrence; Lewis; Lincoln; Loudon; Macon; Madison; Marion; Marshall; Maury; McMinn; McNairy; Meigs; Monroe; Montgomery; Moore; Morgan; Obion; Overton; Perry; Pickett; Polk; Putnam; Rhea; Roane; Robertson; Rutherford; Scott; Sequatchie; Sevier; Shelby; Smith; Stewart; Sullivan; Sumner; Tipton; Trousdale; Unicoi; Union; Van Buren; Warren; Washington; Wayne; Weakley; White; Williamson; Wilson
American Bumble Bee Picture (1)
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Image of an adult American Bumble Bee flying insect.; Credit: Dave E., United States.
This image is original to
www.InsectIdentification.org; Used with Permission.