Do Bumble Bees Sting? | Bee Habits & Behaviors

Do Bumblebees Sting Humans?

There’s a lot of confusion about bumblebees and whether they can sting humans. Yes, they can sting you, but they won’t go out of their way to initiate an altercation. They’re not aggressive like wasps or hornets wanting to charge people, so don’t expect them to chase you unless you invade their territory. The lowly bumblebee is not generally aggressive and will sting only in self-defense.

Many bees have barbed stingers that pierce the skin and are unable to be removed, but this is not the case with the bumblebee. The stinger isn’t barbed, so it can sting multiple times without losing its life.

Bumblebees usually will sting when they feel a threat, such as someone coming too close, stepping on them, or in danger of invading their nest. While the cute little songs taught to children make these bees seem harmless, you should never try to hold one. They can see this as a threat and sting.

The bumble would much rather be out foraging for nectar or pollen than messing with you. Thankfully, their sting isn’t nearly as painful as that of the wasp or even the honeybee. Sure, there might be some swelling, pain, and localized redness at the site, but few people react severely to their stings. Still, it would help if you were wary because anyone can have allergic reactions and need prompt medical care.

If you’re stung by a bumblebee, any issues like hives, difficulty breathing, or signs of shock should be immediately medically evaluated. Typically, a bit of ice or an after-the-sting cream can help to relieve any discomfort you might experience.

Characteristics of Bumblebees

The massive bumblebee belongs to the family Apidae and, within this family, the Bombus sector of insects. They’re officially classified as insects since they have straw-like mouths that help them eat and mandibles. While they might be classified as other insects, they’re much more complex than ants or roaches.

The first thing you’ll notice when you see a bumble is the hair covering its body. Their body hair is essential as it is an insulator for the insects and helps them during pollen collection. When it comes to colors, you might see various hues that depend on the environment in which they live.

The yellow on their body may be vivid, stunning, or muted and mundane. The colors tend to be more subdued in areas where the bee fears for their life and must constantly be on guard. However, those living in the wild where there are not always in danger might be more vibrant.

The ability to blend into diverse environments is essential for survival so that they can change their hue based on the need for protection. Ironically, bumblebees have chameleon characteristics. Isn’t nature fascinating?

These bees live in colonies, and they’re annual, which means they have a short life span. However, their cousin, the honeybee, lives in a perennial settlement. This means the bumbles must establish their colonies yearly, while the honeybee will have the same colony year after year. Within the nest, you’ll find the same hierarchy as other insects, with the queen being the leader, her attendants or drones, and the workers.

Within the bumble species, the queen is much larger than the others in the colony. Her increased size helps her protect herself, establish dominance, and rule her domain.

The Bumblebee Life Cycle

The lifecycle of the bumblebee goes through many stages, but each of these stages is important to the overall success of the colony. The queens hibernate during winter, but the reproductive cycle begins anew in spring. Ironically, the queens are the only ones in the hive that survive from one year to the next, so she has a big job to reproduce to replenish the colony.

Once she awakens, she must find a nesting site perfect for her new family. She starts looking for food, such as pollen and nectar, to build her energy reserves for the job ahead. Once she has all the resources she needs, she creates the nest. Unlike other bees, bumblebees often burrow underground. They will also use abandoned rodent nests or any other sheltered locations she can find.

Finding a Spot to Lay Eggs

Once she’s secured a new space, she will lay her first eggs of the season. These will soon be her worker bees. They have to take over foraging for food, allowing the queen to focus on her main job of reproducing and ensuring the colony grows. The next batch of eggs will produce drones and new queens.

Young queens hatch and leave the nest to mate with drones from neighboring colonies, which helps keep the population of these vital bees thriving. The queens must find a site where they can hibernate and survive over the cold months, as it’s imperative for survival. The process will begin all over again in the spring.

Like many other insects, you’ll find that the lifecycle of the bumblebee is no different. They will go through the egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Since these bees are essential pollinators and play a significant role in maintaining the ecosystem, the life cycle is necessary.

Stage 1: The Egg

During the egg stage, the bee lays eggs one at a time in small wax cells, which she makes. The eggs will rest here for 3-4 days until they hatch. Many variables, such as temperature, humidity, and even the wind, can dictate how long it takes these eggs to hatch.

Stage 2: Larva

The next stage is the larva. The eggs hatch into larvae, small little grubs that are legless. The queen must feed her children and spend her days collecting pollen and nectar for them. As her babies grow, the larvae will molt as they increase in size. She has a big chore keeping these larvae fed as they can gobble large amounts of food.

Stage 3: Pupa

The larvae will spin a securing cocoon to transform into a pupa. The cocoon magic happens called metamorphosis, where they turn into adult bumblebees. Their wings, legs, and bodily tissues are reconstructed for this transformation, and other features form.

Stage 4: Adulthood

Finally, the bumble is a grown adult and will emerge from its cocoon. It takes some time after they make this transformation for their exoskeleton to harden. Some bees prefer to stay in the nest until their exoskeleton can protect them. They also may need additional time for the wings to become functional.

Once the bumblebee is ready to go, it will begin duties like gathering pollen and nectar and pollinating the flowers. If the bee is a new queen, she will immediately start looking for mates. You’ll see plenty of new bees in the later summer or early fall months, and these new bees will leave the nest.

The male bees have one job, and that is to mate with the queen so that she can lay eggs. Once they fulfill their duty, they will perish. Their lifespan is very short as there on earth to do one thing, and once they do what they were created to do, they die. Any older queens will die off with the workers during the cold months, but the new and stronger queens will start the cycle again by finding a suitable place to hibernate.

Ecological Importance of Bumblebees

The bumblebee scares many people with its significant presence and prominent buzz. However, you should know that this insect is a vital part of the ecosystem and critical to agricultural landscapes. Their size and unique sound help them use “buzz pollination,” which allows them to access the pollen within the flower.

The bee grips the flower tight and then uses all the muscles in its body to vibrate. The vibrations cause the pollen to become freed from the flower, and the bee can collect it to return to the colony. Ironically, many plants rely on the bumblebee for pollination, and some farmers need their assistance to help with crops and human food production.

Did you know that bumblebees help pollinate things like peppers, blueberries, and tomatoes? These are just a few fruits and vegetables that help in production. Having these bees around allows the manufacture of healthy and diverse ecosystems, which helps to maintain biodiversity.

Challenges and Threats

The population of bumblebees is threatened by many factors, which is detrimental since they are critical pollinators. One of the main concerns is habitat loss and fragmentation due to the growth and expansion of society, constant land development, and new food production methods. The habitats a bee can make their home has dwindled as society is paving paradise and taking away green spaces.

When bees struggle to find a suitable place to nest and the food sources are insufficient, the colony will perish. Another significant threat is the use of pesticides. Many of the chemicals used today are harmful to the bumble and can affect their reproductive nature, ability to fly, and overall well-being. One of the most dangerous chemicals is neonicotinoids. You can find these chemicals in both local gardens and agricultural settings.

Conservation Efforts

Conservation efforts have gained traction over the past few years to preserve bumblebees. The Xerces Society’s Bumble Bee Watch asks people to report to proper authorities any sightings, as it helps researchers to track their trends and identify where additional efforts need to be made in conservation.

Efforts are being made to create pollinator-friendly areas by planting flowers that reduce pesticide use and are native to this bee. Keeping these resources abundant will help them to have food and safe spaces. Still, if you have a swarm move into ground space near your home, they can threaten your pets, children, and yourself.

Getting Help with Bumblebees

There are many misunderstandings regarding these bees, and it’s important to separate fact from fiction. These giant bees should be appreciated and valued as essential pollinators and a vital part of the ecosystem. Even though they’re part of a global food supply, you don’t want them swarming near areas where your children or pets play.

Though the bumblebee is not aggressive, they can sting when threatened. While this bee is currently not protected by state or federal law, there are still proper ways to remove them. It’s always best to call a pest control professional when dealing with such a situation.

Remember, these bees can and will sting if they need to protect their nest, and it’s best to have a trained professional handle the problem rather than trying to address the infestation without proper gear. If you’re dealing with bumblebees this year around your New Jersey home, give us a call. We can safely eradicate the problem and keep you from getting unnecessarily stung.

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