Also commonly called a tricolored bumblebee, this species is yellow and black with a bright orange abdomen. Orange-belted bumblebees are ground-nesting insects whose colonies only last one season. In late April, the queen ends her hibernation by digging out from underneath a few inches of soil. She finds a burrow or natural crevice in the ground to begin laying eggs that will eventually develop into workers, which will expand the colony and forage for nectar to make honey.
Orange-belted bumblebees are an important pollinator species in our ecosystem. By visiting flowers within the rain garden in search of honey-producing nectar, the insects unintentionally collect pollen grains on their bodies that they then transfer from flower to flower, fertilizing the plants. Orange-belted bumblebees are pollinators for many plant species, including bee balm, trout lilies, nodding onion, and more.
(Click on images for a larger view.)
Every dollar invested in Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council helps leverage government and foundation grants for much needed local water quality monitoring and pollution prevention, invasive species management, shoreline restoration, education, and much more.
The Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Our employee identification number (EIN) is 38-2361745.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information herein; however, it cannot be guaranteed.
Unless otherwise noted, all contents of this website are property of Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council © 2023. All rights reserved.
