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| | | Bumblebees | | Bumblebees (Bombus) are a genus of social bees. Since these Hymenoptera have a sting for defence, they belong to the stinging bees. There are approximately 250 species of bumblebees. They live mainly in the temperate and cooler areas of the northern hemisphere. There is a particularly large variety of species in Europe and Asia; In Europe there are approximately 70 species, 36 of which can be found in Germany. Examples of European bumblebee species are: Bombus argillaceus, Bombus jonellus, Bombus subterranus, Bombus veteranus, Bombus alpinis, Early Bumblebee, Bombus pomorum, Bombus pascuorum and Bombus sicheli. 16 species of bumblebees are currently threatened with extinction. | | |
| | | The queen bee is 15 to 23 mm in length, while the, workers and drones are approximately 8 to 21 mm. Bumblebees have a strong rounded body, comprising head, thorax and abdomen. They are protected from the cold by hair which is mostly yellow, white or black in color. The colouring of the bumblebee varies from type to type. Bumblebees eat using a proboscis, which can vary in length. They have one pair of compound eyes , antennae and six legs.
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| | | | A colony of bumblebees can consist of up to 600 insects with a queen. The majority of bumblebees are workers who live beside the male drones and young queens. In Europe bumblebees survive only one summer. Drones and workers have a life expectancy of 3 to 4 weeks, while a queen lives for approximately 1 year, during which time it hibernates for 8 months. There are, among bumblebees, socially parasitic species (Cuckoo bumblebees) which leave their eggs in the nests of fellows and let the fellows care for their breed. The larvae of the cuckoo bumblebees danger the fellows’ own breeds since they eat the eggs and larvae. These species have no workers. | | |
| | | | Bumblebees (as well as bees in general and flies) are among the most important crop pollinators. Some of the most important natural enemies of bumblebees are: Cuckoo bumblebees, Anthidium manicatum, Mutilla and thick-headed flies. | | |
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| | Further chapters of "Bumblebees" | |
| | Description of images / photos | | 1. | Bombus pascuorum on blossom - Front view | | 2. | Bumblebee on grass feeding from pussy willow | | 3. | Shrill Carder-bee side view | | 4. | Bumblebee - Red-tailed bumblebee | | 5. | Bumblebee fights a blossom | | 6. | Bumblebee Bombus sylvarum on Blossom, hoverfly approaching |
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| Frequent Queries: | | pictures of bumblebees (19) | | Bombus sicheli (8) | | bombus pomorum (8) | | bumblebee insect pictures (7) | | Bombus pictures (5) | | Bombus picture (4) | | breeds of bumble bees (4) |
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