Bug FAQCommon Eastern Bumble Bee
Bombus impatiens · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Apidae
Also called: Common Eastern Bumblebee
Source: UC IPM
Common Eastern Bumble Bee queens are larger than workers and males, and workers measure 8.5 to 16 mm while males are 12 to 18 mm long. Colonies start in May, workers appear in early June, and males and new queens emerge in August-September.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Queens are larger than both workers and males. Workers range from 8.5 to 16 mm and males from 12 to 18 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
Bee stings usually cause only temporary pain, though a small portion of people are allergic. The body may release fluid to flush venom from the sting site.
Source: UC IPM
How to get rid of it
Avoid strong scented products when entering areas with bee activity to reduce stings. Seek medical help if a sting causes severe symptoms or occurs near the neck or mouth.
Source: UC IPM
Where it lives
Nests are built underground in open fields and woods.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They collect pollen and nectar from flowers. Colony members mainly eat honey made from those raw materials because it is more nutritious.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
New queens leave hibernation in mid-April and start colonies in May. Workers emerge in early June; males and new queens appear in August and September.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Queens begin colonies in May after leaving hibernacula in mid-April. Workers show up in early June, and males and new queens appear in late summer.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Also considered native to East North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 48 of 51 states and DC. Most records: New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, Vermont, Wisconsin.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When do they appear?
Queens start colonies in May, workers appear in early June, and males and new queens show up in August-September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where do they live?
They nest underground in fields and woods and are common in suburban areas of the eastern US and southern Canada.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I avoid being stung?
Do not wear heavily scented products near bee activity and seek medical attention if a sting causes severe symptoms.
Source: UC IPM
Same family (Apidae)
Sources
- UC IPM: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7449.html
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombus_impatiens
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.