Bumblebees are fascinating insects that play a vital role as pollinators in ecosystems Their large, fuzzy bodies and loud buzz make them familiar visitors to backyards and gardens during warmer months. But where do bumblebees live when not busily gathering pollen and nectar from flowers? Specifically, do bumblebees make their nests underground?
An Overview of Bumblebee Nests
Bumblebees have annual colonies centered around a single queen. In early spring, queens emerge from hibernation and begin searching for suitable nest sites to start a new colony.
Unlike honey bees that construct elaborate wax combs in hives, bumblebees nest in small cavities and holes. Their nests appear rather haphazard, built from wax into irregular rounded masses with no honeycomb structure.
Bumblebee nests typically house 50-400 bees at their peak. The colonies only last for one season – by late summer the queen stops laying eggs and the colony dies out, except for newly fertilized queens that overwinter to start the cycle again next spring.
Do Bumblebees Prefer Underground Locations?
When it comes to choosing a nest site, the majority of bumblebee queens opt for underground cavities Data shows that around 75% of bumblebee nests are subterranean.
Some of the underground areas that bumblebees exploit include:
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Abandoned rodent burrows – Voles, mice, squirrels, and other small mammals dig extensive burrow systems that create cavities perfect for bumblebees when abandoned.
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Under compost piles – Bumblebees often nest under compost or piles of plant debris that sit directly on soil. The dark, insulating cover protects their nest.
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Among tree roots – In wooded habitats, bumblebees look for cavities formed by the roots of mature trees at or just below the soil surface.
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Under grass tussocks – Robust clumps of grass have spaces underneath into which bumblebees frequently nest. The grass helps conceal the nest entrance.
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Old animal dens – Cavities dug by foxes, coyotes, skunks, or badgers get reused by enterprising bumblebee queens.
Why Do Bumblebees Favor Underground Nest Sites?
There are several key reasons why bumblebees strongly prefer making their nests underground:
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Thermoregulation – Temperature control is easier underground. Being buried provides insulation against extreme heat and cold. Bumblebee brood requires consistent, warm conditions to develop properly.
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Protection – A nest hidden out of sight under soil is less vulnerable to discovery by predators like bears, skunks, and birds that may raid exposed nests for protein-rich bee larvae and honey stores.
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Shelter – An underground site prevents the nest from being damaged by wind, rain, or storms that could drench and chill vulnerable brood.
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Shade – Direct sun baking a nest raises temperatures to intolerable levels. Subterranean sites keep colonies cool.
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Humidity – The closed underground environment allows bumblebees to maintain suitable humidity conditions within the nest.
Above-Ground Nest Sites
Although most nest underground, bumblebees will occasionally nest above ground as well. Up to 25% of bumblebee nests can be found in above-ground cavities such as:
- Hollow trees or stumps
- Under the eaves of sheds
- Inside piles of wood, straw, or debris
- Underneath porches or decks
- In old bird nests
- Inside walls or attics of houses
Above-ground sites still offer seclusion from the elements and concealment from predators. However, insulation, temperature regulation, and humidity control are much more challenging compared to underground.
Bumblebees may opt for above-ground locations in environments where the soil is frequently waterlogged, frozen solid, or otherwise unsuitable for excavating nests.
Help for Bumblebees
Since suitable nest cavities limit bumblebee populations, we can support them by creating artificial nest boxes wherever possible. Providing underground nest boxes is ideal, but even above-ground boxes are readily used.
With a bit of DIY effort, we can give bumblebee queens safe spots to raise the next generation of these valuable native pollinators. Every little bit helps combat declining bumblebee populations.
Can the Bumblebee Conservation Trust come and move a bumblebee nest for me?
No, we are not able to move bumblebee nests or recommend anyone else who can.
It can be hard to find bumblebee nests that aren’t already in a bird box or something similar, and moving them could hurt both the bees and the structure they’re in.
Bumblebees don’t damage buildings, and the nest isn’t very big, so it will just dry out when the bees leave. The easiest thing to do is to wait until they are done nesting. If you don’t want another queen to find and use the same spot, you can take steps to stop that from happening.
What to do if you find a bumblebee nest
You should feel very lucky if you find a bumblebee nest. They aren’t very common and can be hard to find.
When people find a bumblebee nest, they might be scared, but we usually say that nests should be left alone and in place. They don’t last very long, just a few months, and don’t cause any damage. People usually don’t notice a nest until it’s well established and maybe even almost over. This is because there is more bee “traffic,” or bees coming and going, so it might be over sooner than you think.
If you leave bumblebees alone, they are usually calm animals that visit flowers quietly and don’t bother or bother to notice people. Queens, workers, and cuckoo female bumblebees will only sting to protect their nests if they feel threatened by someone or something, like the vibrations from a lawnmower or someone getting too close to the nest. Male bumblebees don’t have a sting and so, even if they wanted to, they can’t harm people.
Sometimes it’s not convenient to have a bumblebee nest entrance outside your bedroom window or in the garden. But if you make some temporary changes, you can get used to living with bumblebees.
- Use fine netting to cover window openings. Bumblebees don’t mean to go inside, but they sometimes go in the wrong door.
- To keep pets and little kids away from nest entrances, put up temporary fences or barriers. Bumblebees might need some space to get in and out of their nest safely. An upside-down wire hanging basket could work.
- Move garden furniture or play equipment to a different part of the garden. Do not make a lot of noise or shake the tree too close to the nest.
Credit: Jamie Buxton-Gould
Clever Queen Bumble Bees | Life In The Undergrowth | BBC Earth
FAQ
How do I get rid of bumble bees underground?
What does a bumblebee nest look like in the ground?
What happens if you block the entrance to a bees nest?
What type of bees live underground?
Do bumblebees live in hives?
They also make less honey, and they can sting more than once. Because they can appear so similar to honeybees, it’s a common misconception (or assumption) that bumblebees live in hives, but they don’t. Bumblebee nests are quite different from beehives, and understanding them could serve the bumblebees well in their fight against extinction.
How do bumblebees live?
Bumblebees have very different lifestyles from most other bees. Carpenter bees, for instance, live in wood, where they carve tunnels for their eggs and larvae. Honeybees spend most of their time improving their hive to make more room for honey. Bumblebees also produce honey, but their main purpose is pollinating.
Where do bumble bees live?
Like honey bees, bumble bees live socially in hives which provide shelter and a place to raise their young. Usually located underground, particularly in abandoned holes made by rodents, bumble bee hives usually include between 50 and 500 individuals. 2. Except for new queens, which hibernate during winter, bumble bee colonies die in late fall.
Where do bumble bees nest?
Ensure bumble bees have nesting sites. Most bumble bees nest in hives in underground holes made by larger animals, while some nest above ground in abandoned bird nests, grass tussocks or cavities such as hollow logs or spaces beneath rocks. In gardens, they may also use compost piles or unoccupied birdhouses. Protect hibernation habitat.
Do bumblebees burrow?
Unlike carpenter bees, bumblebees don’t burrow. They’d rather take advantage of any holes or gaps formed by other creatures. They also don’t have the anatomy to design intricate nests using what’s around them, so they usually settle into spaces that can already accommodate them.
Do bumblebees produce honey?
Honeybees spend most of their time improving their hive to make more room for honey. Bumblebees also produce honey, but their main purpose is pollinating. Although bumblebees can live either above or below the ground, most prefer the underground. The bumblebee queen is responsible for finding the perfect spot to lay her eggs.