Bumblebees always amaze people, because the way of life of the furry insects hides many secrets. The life of bumblebees is exciting like no other insect life. They take on important tasks in the ecosystem and are not as dangerous as feared.
Where and how do bumblebees live?
Bumblebees are important pollinators, are protected and cannot be killed or caught. There are 36 different species of bumblebees in Germany. They are like bees in colonies, but build their nests in the ground or in cracks. Bumblebee stings are usually harmless.
All about bumblebees
Bumblebees are a genus with the scientific name Bombus, which belongs to the true bees. The colony-forming insects are a lower classification within the hymenoptera and belong to the stinging or defensive insects. Their main distribution area extends over temperate and cooler latitudes. Their way of life hardly differs from that of bees.
| Answer | |
|---|---|
| What do bumblebees eat? | Pollen and nectar |
| How long do bumblebees live? | Lifespan between two weeks and a year |
| Where do bumblebees sleep? | sleeping on flowers |
| When do bumblebees die? | when there is a lack of food and due to cold |
Nature conservation
Bumblebees are protected
The hard-working insects take on important functions in the ecosystem. They are outnumbered by other true bees and are threatened by declining food sources and habitats. Protected and undisturbed wintering quarters are particularly important for the overwintering young queens. These are also increasingly disappearing, which is why the insects are protected by the Nature Conservation Act. Protection continues to exist through the Species Protection Act, because bumblebees are endangered by the use of pesticides and early mowing of flower strips.
This is forbidden:
- Catch and injure insects
- intentional killing
- Damaging or destroying breeding and resting places
Natural enemies
Bumblebees are parasitized by the closely related cuckoo bumblebees. The male woolly bees defend themselves against flying bees and bumblebees that accidentally enter their territory. They fly towards the intruders and curve their thorny abdomens forward just before the collision. Bumblebees' wings are often destroyed upon impact, making them unable to fly and starving.
The wax moth poses a greater danger because it can destroy an entire bumblebee colony. She is attracted by the scent of nectar and pollen in the bumblebee nests and lays her eggs there. When the larvae have hatched, they eat into the honeycombs and eat bumblebee eggs and larvae.
Bumblebees are hosts of bee ants, whose females penetrate the bumblebee nests and lay one egg per cell. The larvae eat the entire brood and then pupate. Despite this way of life, an infestation with the bee ant does not necessarily result in the demise of the entire bumblebee colony.
More enemies:
- Fat fly: lays eggs in adult bumblebees
- Mites: attack bumblebees and feed on their blood
- Human: Use of pesticides and insecticides kills bumblebees
How do bumblebees reproduce?
Bumblebees mate in summer
Between July and August, drones prefer to buzz around large flowers that are rich in nectar. Here they wait for a young queen to mate with. While the queen can only mate once, the drones can mate with multiple females. Immediately after mating, the fertilized young queens look for a place to overwinter.
Summit Courtship
The males of the bright earth bumblebee look for exposed areas in the terrain to position themselves there. These can be hills or mountaintops that protrude as far as possible from the landscape. Against the horizon, the males are clearly visible from the females. When they are ready to mate, they fly specifically to these places.
Patrol flights
In this type of courtship, the males of dark bumblebees, rock bumblebees and garden bumblebees repeatedly fly along fixed routes that are 200 to 300 meters long. The flight altitude of the drones differs between species. Garden bumblebees prefer to fly near the ground, while rock bumblebees can be found high up in treetops.
The drones leave pheromones on branches and leaves at a distance of five to ten meters. Females are attracted by the pheromones, which is why, according to scientific assumptions, the chance of mating is greatest in the area of the markings.
Gatherings
Moss bumblebee drones gather in large numbers in front of nests of other bumblebee colonies that are not closely related. They stay at the nest exit and wait for young queens to emerge. Researchers have put forward the theory that males orientate themselves by smell and thus find strange nests.
What do bumblebees look like?
Wild bumblebees are difficult to recognize in nature. Of the 36 species found in Germany, there are large and small bumblebees that are active at different times. However, the greatest period of activity overlaps, as most nectar plants bloom in summer. To distinguish between the seven most common species, the coloring on the body must be used.
| Flight times | Coloring | |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Earth Bumblebee | Mid-February to mid-October | two yellow crossbands, white tip of the abdomen |
| Bright Earth Bumblebee | March to September | orange-gray to brown bands, white abdomen |
| Stone Bumblebee | March to September | End of abdomen is brown-red |
| Meadow bumblebee | Mid-February to June | yellow and orange ribbons |
| Tree bumblebee | Mid-February to September | Upper body orange-brown, abdomen black |
| Bumblebee | Mid-March to mid-November | Upper body yellowish to reddish-brown, abdomen banded white |
| Garden bumblebee | March to September | golden yellow bandages with black spaces |
Black bumblebees?
This beautiful insect is not a bumblebee but a bee
Because of its size, the blue carpenter bee is often mistaken for a bumblebee. It is the largest native species of wild bee and can be recognized by its blue wings, which contrast with the black and shiny metallic body. The blue carpenter bee is a peaceful insect.
Portrait: wasps, bees, bumblebees and hornets
These insects are hymenoptera and each have their own individual lifestyle, but they are similar in some aspects. While bumblebees appear particularly threatening due to their loud buzzing noises and their size, they are far less dangerous than bees and wasps. Hornets are just as dangerous. Like bumblebees, these only sting in exceptional cases when they are threatened.
Interesting facts:
- Honey bee venom is more poisonous than hornet venom
- Female bumblebees, unlike males, have a stinger
- Bumblebees, hornets and wasps only use their nests for one year
- You can buy bumblebees and bees for pollination
Where and how do bumblebees live?
Bumblebees build their nests in the ground
Bumblebees are social insects that support each other within the colony and serve the continued existence of the species. Unlike bees, they do not communicate about the direction and distance of a nectar source. However, they can tell their peers that there is nectar in the area by releasing pheromones. Every bumblebee must first learn which plants provide nectar and how to get the desired food.
Typical nest structure
- jug- to urn-shaped cell arrangement
- Nest resembles a looser and upright pile
- Cover made of hair, grass and moss insulates the nest
- additional wax layer protects against heat loss
Excursus
Breeding behavior
After laying her first eggs, the queen sits on the eggs to warm them. This creates temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius. The nest has constant temperatures between 30 and 33 degrees Celsius. When brooding, the queen turns to her own food supplies so that she does not have to leave her eggs to eat.
How do bumblebees nest?
In spring the young queens look for a suitable place where they can build their nest. Depending on the species, the insects use different nesting places. Earth bumblebees prefer to colonize burrows, while tree bumblebees can also nest in abandoned bird nests. The nests are only used for one year. Only in rare cases does the queen return to the old bumblebee nest in which she grew up. In the tropics there are bumblebee colonies that colonize a nest for several years.
Where bumblebees build their nests:
- in masonry: cracks and cavities
- in the garden: holes in the ground, in the moss or in hollow tree trunks
- on buildings: in the roller shutter box, under the roof or in the window frame
How many bumblebees live in a nest?
A bumblebee colony can house between 50 and 600 insects. The exact number of individuals varies depending on the species. Workers make up the majority of a colony. In a large state, several hundred young queens can grow up.
Why can bumblebees fly?
Even wet bumblebees can fly
According to an aerodynamicist's calculations, bumblebees can't actually fly. Contrary to this theory, bumblebees move in the air. They also fly in the rain and, when wet, cling to a nectar-rich flower to survive the bad weather. The wings of a bumblebee are extremely elastic because they consist mainly of the protein resilin. This can expand to three times its size without tearing.
Due to this high flexibility, vortexes are created at the tip when the wings beat. Large volumes of air move and provide the buoyancy needed to get the voluminous bumblebee bodies into the air.
How do bumblebees fly?
A wing can move upward if there is less pressure on the top than under the wing. To reduce the pressure at the top, the wing must be curved as much as possible. The bumblebee wing has a joint in the middle, which is also made of resilin.
The bumblebee flaps its slanted wings forward. The wing is then rotated so that the top and bottom are swapped. In this position the insect moves its wings backwards. The wing tips form the foremost point of every movement. In this self-contained movement, a vortex is created at the front edge, which makes the supposedly physically impossible flight of bumblebees possible.
What do bumblebees do in winter?
Shortly after mating, which takes place between July and August, the young queens look for a suitable place to overwinter. It is not yet clear why the insects seek overwintering quarters so early in the year, as there is still a plentiful supply of food at this time. The young queens are therefore rarely seen, while the males can often be observed during their courtship flights. They die after mating and, like the workers, do not overwinter.
Suitable wintering places:
- Molehills
- Compost
- Pile of leaves
Are bumblebees dangerous?
Bumblebees can sting or bite. They have a stinger, although the stinging apparatus is relatively poorly developed. Although the aggression potential differs from species to species, bumblebees rarely sting because they are the most peaceful defensive stingers and warn enemies of an attack. Drones, on the other hand, have no stinger and are completely harmless.
Hummeln - nützliche Gartenlieblinge
Spiny apparatus and poisonous effects
The stinger of a bumblebee does not get stuck in the skin when it stings because it has no barbs. Therefore, bumblebees do not die after being bitten. After piercing its stinger through the skin, the bumblebee transfers a poison to the victim. In humans, the sting causes a slight pinching sensation. However, the poison can cause pain, itching, swelling and redness. For most people, a bumblebee sting is harmless. Only allergy sufferers have to expect sometimes severe reactions from the immune system.
Defense
If there is a threat, the bumblebee first raises its middle leg and stretches it towards the attacker. If the enemy is not deterred by this, the bumblebee turns on its back and extends its stinger towards the attacker. Meanwhile, she tries to scare off the enemy with loud humming noises. If the threat persists, a stabbing attack may occur. Occasionally bumblebees also bite in defense.
Repel bumblebees?
In Germany it is forbidden to remove a bumblebee nest without a special reason or to use means to kill it. Anyone who acts contrary to the law must expect fines of 50,000 euros. It doesn't matter whether chemical insecticides or home remedies were used.
Bumblebees are protected and may only be relocated in exceptional cases with permission. An exceptional case is when an allergy sufferer can no longer use certain areas of the garden. In this case, you should contact a nature conservation organization such as Nabu or volunteer bumblebee conservationists. If there is immediate danger, specialists can remove or relocate nests.
How to keep bumblebees away:
- Protect your apartment with fly screens
- don't hit the bumblebees
- Fit terraces and balconies exclusively with green plants
- Sow nectar-rich flowering plants in an undisturbed corner of the garden
What don’t bumblebees like?
Bumblebees don't like smoke
Bumblebees rarely stray into the barbecue area because the insects don't like smoke. If you want to get rid of bumblebees, avoid floral perfumes and colorful clothing. Both of these things confuse the bumblebee because it thinks it has found a food source.
Living with bumblebees
Bumblebees are important as pollinators. They can pollinate flowers with long tubular flowers such as broad bean and red clover. Honey bees cannot reach deep enough into the flower structures with their short mouthparts. In the greenhouse, bumblebees use their vibrations to support the self-pollination of tomatoes and peppers, which otherwise has to be carried out by hand.
Bumblebees are able to increase their body temperature. This means they can fly even in bad weather and low temperatures and pollinate vegetable plants and fruit trees during periods of bad weather. Even when there are periods of heavy rain throughout the summer, bumblebees ensure pollination. Bees retreat under these conditions.
Bumblebees are extremely useful and peaceful creatures that enrich every garden.
Attracting bumblebees
If you have bought or built an insect hotel for bumblebees yourself, you will have to do some convincing. Only around 25 percent of all nesting aids are populated automatically. Once the box has been inhabited, the chance of re-inhabitation by the descendants is very high. An attractive food supply in the garden is important for use.
To settle bumblebees, the box is placed on the ground. Make a mouse hole by burying a hose and leaving the opening sticking out of the ground. The second opening ends in the bumblebee box. The hose should have an inner diameter of 2.5 centimeters and no longer than one meter. The entrance becomes more attractive if the opening at the edge is slightly covered in moss.
Tip
A board leaning diagonally against the box automatically guides bumblebees to the entrance when they fly above the ground in search of a hole in the ground. When touched, they follow the board upwards.
Better flowering meadows than bumblebee houses
Flowering meadows are more useful than bumblebee boxes
Special bumblebee boxes are available in stores with which those interested in nature and hobby gardeners can settle bumblebees in the garden. However, bumblebees rarely accept such boxes. If there are already cracks in the wood where holes have been drilled, bumblebees will completely avoid colonizing them. The insects also despise plastic and metal. Such nesting boxes are more often adopted by solitary wild bees. With a species-rich flower meadow you support the bumblebees in a natural way.
Tip
Hollow bricks offer an ideal nesting place. The entrance should be at ground level.
What plants do bumblebees like?
So-called traditional plants have a special meaning in beekeeping. These plants are preferred by bees because they are rich in nectar and pollen. Bumblebees also like such plants. Particularly in fruit trees, the visit of bees and bumblebees is important for fruit formation. You can specifically help bumblebees by growing such nectar plants. When selecting plants, look for a mix of early and late flowering species. This ensures a continuous supply of nectar from late winter to autumn.
Flowers for bumblebees:
- Early bloomers: Crocus
- Perennials: marigold, bee friend
- Balcony flowers: cosmea, strawflower
- Woods: Rhododendron, Marshmallow
- Herbs: Lavender, chives, oregano
Promoting weakened bumblebees
In mid and late summer the food supply is usually no longer sufficient and many bumblebees are too weak to reach the last flowers. You can save the insects by adding a small drop of sugar solution directly to the soil. The bumblebee smells the energy source and picks up the food with its trunk.
Bumblebees as inspiration
People are fascinated by the furry flying artists who perform even under adverse conditions. Her will to survive seems to dominate her. The special way of life of insects always provides inspiration in the media world.
- Bumblebees in the Heart: Novel by Petra Hülsmann
- Bumblebees in the stomach: film based on the novel by Jo Berger
- Bumblebees – Bees in Fur: Documentary by Kurt Mündl
- Bumblebees in the ass: travel blog
- Bumblebees fly even in the rain: novel by Andrea Kraft
Frequently asked questions
Why do so many bumblebees die in summer?
In midsummer, a lack of nectar leads to masses of dead bumblebees lying under lime trees. Once they have discovered the coveted nectar sources, they are often too weak to reach them. Linden trees are the last important nectar suppliers as the growing season approaches the end. This development is particularly drastic in cities because large areas are sealed. The food supply here is negligible.
How you can help bumblebees:
- offer a drop of sugar water
- Install feeding station in the garden
- Planting bushes for bees and bumblebees
How old do bumblebees get?
The life expectancy of insects depends not only on environmental conditions but also on social status. Queens overwinter and can live up to a year. The workers that emerge in spring live for several months, while the foragers die after two to three weeks. Drones are produced in late summer and have a life expectancy of one month.
What do bumblebees eat?
The insects feed on pollen and nectar that they collect from various flowering plants. Because of their long mouthparts, bumblebees can also reach deep nectar in long tubular flowers. Clover is one of her favorite plants. They also fly on pastures, fruit trees, viper's head or oregano.
What do bumblebees do with the pollen?
The workers use the collected nectar to cover their high energy needs. To ensure the survival of the colony, the bumblebees fill their collecting sacs with nectar. This is excreted as honey and serves as food for the queen and offspring in the nest.
They use their abdomen to remove pollen, which is transported in the pollen sacs. The queen forms a pea-sized ball from the pollen, which is coated with wax. She lays her eggs on it so that the offspring are immediately supplied with food after they hatch.
Why can bumblebees fly?
In the 1930s, the bumblebee paradox circulated in the media, which was originally intended as a joke by an aerodynamicist. He made a calculation and came to the conclusion that bumblebees are actually not allowed to fly because of their unequal ratio of wing area to body volume.
It later turned out that there is no paradox here. When a bumblebee flaps its wings, vortices are created. A bumblebee can move its wings in circles up to 200 times per second, creating tornado-like vortices of air. These create a negative pressure, which causes the bumblebee to rise into the air.
Do bumblebees produce honey?
In spring, the queen goes looking for pollen and nectar to produce what is known as bee bread. Honey is excreted from the abdomen and serves as a building material and energy-rich food. She forms a cell from the honey into which she lays her first eggs. She also builds a pot that is then filled with honey. The queen feeds on this supply while she incubates her eggs.
