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
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 griseocollis.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
Species: griseocollis
Characteristics
Abdomen: Has a noticeably large / oversized abdomen.
Helpful: Known for its generally helpful-to-human qualities.
Nocturnal: Most likely to be spotted during night time hours.
Outdoors: Typically found across the great outdoors.
Six-Legged: Six legs are common to this insect.
Striped / Banded: Noticeable stripes or banding pattern.
Winged: Has wings to hop or fly over distance.
Description
The Brown-belted Bumble Bee has been identified by site users by the following descriptors:
yellow   black   striped   stripes   six-legged   outdoors   garden   helpful   abdomen   transparent   wings   winged   flying   flight   summer   large   tan   beige   gold
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 Brown-belted Bumble Bee. Due to monitor differences, sizes may not be exact on your particular screen. Conversions to millimeters are provided for convenience.
Lowest-Low:
0.35 inches
(9 mm)
Highest-High:
0.83 inches
(21 mm)
Identifying Colors
Below you will find the colors most commonly associated with the Brown-belted 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 Brown-belted 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
Brown-belted Bumble Bee Picture (1)
1 of 1
Image of an adult Brown-belted Bumble Bee flying insect at rest on a garden plant.; Credit: Julie R. of Franklin, Tennessee.
This image is original to
www.InsectIdentification.org; Used with Permission.