Bumble bees are iconic insects that many people can easily recognize. However, there are several other insects that can be mistaken for bumble bees due to their similar size, coloring, and behavior. Knowing how to distinguish a true bumble bee from its lookalikes is useful for identification purposes and appreciating the diversity of insect species that have evolved to mimic bumble bees.
In this article we will explore some common insects that are often confused with bumble bees and provide tips on how to tell them apart. With a little knowledge you’ll be able to confidently identify that fuzzy insect flying around your garden.
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees are large, robust bees that resemble bumble bees in their size and coloring They are mostly black but can have some yellow or white markings There are several differences that distinguish them from true bumble bees
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Carpenter bees have a shiny, hairless abdomen while bumble bees are very hairy overall
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Male carpenter bees have a yellow face whereas bumble bee faces are black and yellow.
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Carpenter bees have very powerful jaws that allow them to bore into wood, creating tunnel nests. Bumble bees nest in cavities like old mouse holes or under grass tussocks.
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Male carpenter bees are very territorial and will aggressively investigate anything that approaches their nests. They cannot sting but will bump into things while patrolling their territory.
Mason Bees
Mason bees are solitary bees that get their name from using mud or clay to construct their nest cells. They are much more slender than bumble bees but have a similar black and yellow/orange striped appearance.
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Mason bees do not have pollen baskets (corbiculae) on their hind legs like bumble bees.
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They have more extensive yellow or white abdominal markings compared to bumble bees.
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Mason bees carry pollen on scopal hairs located on their abdomen rather than hind legs.
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They nest in cavities like holes in wood, rock crevices, or hollow stems rather than the elaborate colonies of bumble bees.
Honey Bees
Honey bees are very closely related to bumble bees and share some similarities in appearance. However, honey bees can be identified by:
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Having more extensive brown or yellow stripes on their abdomens. Bumble bee stripes tend to be more localized towards the front.
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Lacking the dense furry coat of bumble bees, appearing smoother.
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Nesting in hive structures containing wax honeycomb rather than underground colonies.
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Forming much larger colonies with dedicated worker, drone, and queen castes. Bumble bee colonies are smaller with less division of labor.
Wasps
Wasps, especially yellowjackets, are perhaps the most frequent bumble bee impersonators. They mimic bumble bees to deter potential predators. However, wasps can be recognized by:
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Having thinner, less hairy bodies than bumble bees and distinct thin waists.
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Lacking pollen baskets on hind legs since they do not collect pollen.
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Having wings folded lengthwise at rest rather than overlapping like bumble bees.
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Nesting in large paper nests built from chewed wood pulp rather than underground.
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Being more aggressive, especially if their nest is disturbed. Be cautious around any suspected wasp!
Hoverflies
Hoverflies are true flies, but some species are excellent bumble bee mimics. Tips for identification include:
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Having a single pair of wings instead of two pairs like bumble bees.
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Lacking antennae, pollen baskets, and dense furry coat of bumble bees.
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Having enormous eyes that cover most of their head.
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Being able to hover in place while drinking nectar from flowers.
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Having a less robust, tapered abdomen compared to bumble bees.
Other Bee Mimics
There are a variety of other insects beyond bees themselves that have evolved to look like bumble bees. These include:
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Day-flying moths like the bumblebee hawk moths. Look for their larger wingspan and feathery antennae.
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Thick-headed flies that are more slender with pointier abdominal tips.
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Flower scarab beetles that have an oval body shape and thick hind legs.
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Parasitic wasps and flies that mimic bumble bees to invade their nests undetected. They lack pollen baskets.
Carpenter bees
Carpenter bees have powerful mandibles (jaws) that can dig tunnels in wood. The huge (20–23 mm) black bee Xylocopa violacea lives in central and southern Europe. It builds its nest in dead wood and digs a tunnel up to 30 cm long with 10–15 cells inside. This bee holds the record for laying the largest egg of any insect.
Carpenter bees live all over the world, and in the United States, you can often see a bee that looks a lot like this one. It makes sense that a lot of carpenter nests in the building’s support structure would cause some damage, but this is not the case.
One behaviour can be alarming though. The males compete with other males to mate with females. This involves them chasing males away and chasing females to mate. During these chases they zoom about crashing into windows, people and anything else in their path. The people who are in the way of all this may think they are being attacked, but they aren’t. They are just in the way. Males may also hang out and wait for adult females to come out. They act in a way that might seem aggressive to us by chasing away other males and checking out anything that comes close to the exit hole. This thing might be your head. You will be buzzed around and looked at to see if you are a rival that needs to be pushed away or a female that needs to mate. Males, on the other hand, can’t sting, so there is no danger. As with most male mating behavior, it’s all show.
These bees will build their nests in almost any hole, which they can shape however they want by using dirt or other materials. Some species only build their nests in snail shells, and a very small species only builds its nests in the holes that wood worm beetles leave behind. The bird Osmia bicornis, which used to be called Osmia rufa, often builds its nests in old nail holes and in the mortar of old walls. Some, like Anthophora retusa, build their cells with clay, sand, earth and chalk, or earth mixed with wood, or any other material that is handy. In towns their nests can often be found between two bricks in walls. Anthophora retusa looks like a small, dark bumblebee, but she has orange-coloured hairs on her hind legs. In the UK this bee appears in the early spring.
Above is the honey bee. It is not nearly as hairy as the bumblebee, and is usually smaller.
Above is a wasp. They have the same colouring as some bumblebees, but they do not have much hair. The species that have the same yellow and black stripes are found all over the world. They are between 10 and 30 mm long.
What Does a Bumble Bee Sting Look Like
FAQ
Is there another bee that looks like a bumblebee?
What insect looks like a bumble bee?
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