The bumblebee is a large hairy insect that is black and yellow in color. Some species however, are red, orange or solid black. The name bumblebee can refer to any bee that is in the genus Bombus and in the family Apidae. In the Northern Hemisphere there are over 250 known species of this bee. Like their closest relative, the honey bee, these bees collect and feed on nectar and pollen.

Bumblebees live in colonies like honey bees, but their colonies are not as extensive. This is because of the small size of the nest area and the fact that a single female controls the reproduction and construction within the nest. These nests are usually made up of no more than 50 colony members. A wax canopy is sometimes formed over the top of the nest to provide insulation and protection. The nest is usually not preserved through the winter except for some tropical species of bumblebees.

Foraging for pollen is a daily part of the bumble bee’s life. These bees will stray as far as two kilometers from their nest to seek flowers that contain pollen. As long as the pollen and nectar are continually available, the bumblebee will visit these same sites everyday. The bees extract the nectar from the flower by using their long tongue and then store the nectar in their crop. Upon collecting the pollen and nectar, these bees return to the nest to store it in wax cells.