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Insect InfoBeesBumble Bee  Adult worker body length about 1/4-1" (6-25 mm), queens about 3/4-1" (17-25 mm) long; robust in form. Color black with yellow (rarely orange) markings; with overall fuzzy appearance, including top surface of abdomen. Head with distinct space between base of compound eye and base of mandible. Hind tibia with apical spurs. Front wing with 2nd submarginal cell more or less rectangular, about as long as 1st submarginal cell. Hind wing lacks a jugal lobe (lobe on rear margin near body). Stinger relatively smooth, with small barbs. In addition, Bombus with hind tibia modified into pollen basket (surface bare and polished, marginal hair fringe) whereas, Psithyrus lacks pollen basket, hind tibia slender. Bumble bees are social insects which live in nests or colonies. The adults are represented by workers (Psithyrus spp. lack workers) which are sterile females, queens, and males (drones) which come from unfertilized eggs and usually appear in late summer. Typically, only inseminated queens overwinter and do so underground. In the spring, the queens of Psithyrus species wait until the Bombus nests are moderate in size and then parasitize them. The Bombus queens select a suitable subterranean cavity or surface grass clump as a nesting site. Then the Bombus queen fashions a honey pot of wax scales near the nest entrance into which she regurgitates nectar. Next she makes a pollen clump on the nest floor and lays 8-10 eggs on it. The queen will periodically add pollen and nectar to the peripheral edges of the clump, and eventually more eggs. Developmental time (egg to adult) is 16-25 days, with 4 larval molts. Workers live about 2 weeks. Most first brood workers are small due to nutrition. The queen will increase the number of eggs laid as the number of workers to care for them increases. During the summer, parasitism may eliminate up to 50% of the colony's workers each week. However, a mature bumble bee nest ultimately contains about 50-400 bees at any given time; the largest known nest contained 756 bees and 385 brood (larvae and pupae). The nest temperature is regulated to about 86 degrees F (30 degrees C). This thermoregulation is accomplished by the bee relaxing the 3rd axillary muscle to its wings which unhinges the wings from the main power-producing thoracic muscles. Then contractions of these large muscles produces body heat without wing movement. In the late summer only males (drones) and new queens are reared in the nest. Once these new queens emerge, they mate and find a suitable place to overwinter.. The males, workers, old queen, and any virgin new queens die with the onset of cold weather. Depending on the Bombus species, the overwintering queen will select an appropriate nesting site the following spring. The queen of some Bombus species locate a dark cavity at least 3/4" (2 cm) high by 1 1/8" (3 cm) wide containing fine plant fiber; such a nest is usually underground and often an abandoned mouse nest. Queens of other Bombus species select a dense clump of grass on the surface for a nest, adding grass on top. The queens of Psithyrus species are all parasitic on Bombus nests, so they bide their time until the Bombus nests are moderate in size and can therefore support them. They then enter the nest, kill the Bombus queen, and take over the nest using the Bombus workers to care for her young. Bombus queens of later emerging Bombus species sometimes also parasitize the nests of earlier emerging Bombus species. Bumble bees foraging for nectar fly at 7-12 mph (11-20 km/hr) and spend only 2-4 minutes inside the nest between trips. Probably they will travel at least 3 mi (5 km) if necessary for nectar. They orientate by the sky's polarized light via their 3 ocelli, so they can forage before and after light when objects and landmarks are not visible. They use their thermoregulation procedure to warm up flight muscles before the sun rises and to also forage when temperatures are below 50 degrees F (10 degrees C; lowest observed flight at 26 degrees F/-3.6 degrees C) whereas, most bees stop foraging at 61 degrees F (16 degrees C). Each worker forages independently, and bumble bees never exchange food. Old cocoons are used to store both pollen and nectar. Only enough food (honey and pollen) for a few days is stored at any given time which helps discourage nest predation by skunks, foxes, etc.Defense is usually done by using their relatively smooth stingers which can be used over and over. Some species will also spray feces, and some cover the intruder with regurgitated honey. People sensitive to insect venom should exercise care around bumble bee nests. Bumble bees are considered beneficial insects because they pollinate the flowers of many plant species. However, if their nest is located in or close to an occupied structure or recreational area, then control is warranted. During the day find the location of each nest by observing where the bees disappear into the ground, grass clump, or structure. At night using background light and while wearing a Bee Bonnet, apply an appropriately labeled pesticide. Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees are not social insects and do not live in nests or colonies. The adults hibernate, typically in abandoned nest tunnels. In the spring, the survivors emerge and feed on nectar Then mating begins and extends into nest-construction time. The mated female may either reuse an old gallery, construct a new one by lengthening an old gallery, bore an entire new one, or extend a gallery from a common entrance hole. The female typically bores a circular hole (same diameter as her body) straight into the wood across the wood grain for a distance equal to her body length. Then the gallery takes a right-angle turn, usually with the grain of the wood and parallel to the outer longitudinal surfaces. New galleries average 4-6" long but galleries developed/used by several bees may extend up to ten feet. The female provisions each gallery cell starting at the closed end of the gallery with a mass of pollen and regurgitated nectar upon which she lays a single egg. This portion of the gallery is then sealed off with a chewed wood-pulp plug, making a chamber or cell. This process is repeated until a linear series of 5-6 cells is completed, about one cell per day. Developmental time (egg to adult) for the eastern carpenter bee is about 36 days. Male carpenter bees tend to be territorial and often become aggressive when humans approach, sometimes hovering a short distance in front of the face or buzzing one's head. Since males have no stinger, these action are merely show. However, the female does have a potent sting which is rarely used. Honey Bees
Honey bees may become troublesome when they swarm or build colonies in or near residential areas Honeybees occasionally invade homes and establish a colony, building combs of wax containing honey, pollen and brood in wall spaces. Once established, a colony is difficult to remove because it usually involves structural modification of the building. To be effective, the honey and wax should be removed along with the bees or the site will remain attractive to other swarms. In addition, ants, carpet beetles, flies and cockroaches may find their way to the comb to feed and reproduce. Several methods may be used to control honey bees once they are established in a building, but prevention is the best way to avoid the problem. Good maintenance, including painting, repairing or replacing rotted boards or broken brick and caulking, can prevent a colony from getting started. If a colony becomes established, call a local beekeeper who may be interested in removing the colony. Names of beekeepers can be obtained through your local extension office or the State Agriculture dept, Bureau of Plant Industry Killer Bees
AFRICANIZED ("KILLER") BEES
Africanized "killer" bees looks so much like a regular honeybee that the only way to tell the two apart is by measuring their bodies. Africanized bees have different wing measurements than honeybees. Africanized bees have small colonies, so they can build nests in unique places. They have been known to live in tires, crates, boxes, and empty cars. Their venom is no more dangerous than regular honeybees-they just tend to attack in greater numbers, which causes more danger to humans. These bees defend their colony and attack when threatened. Because of the aggressive nature of these pests and the enormity of their nests, a pest control professional or beekeeper may be needed to address serious infestations. If you are chased by Africanized honeybees, run in a zig zag pattern and seek shelter in a house or car. |
Carpenter bees get their common names from their habit of boring into wood to make galleries for the rearing of young.
Adult body length about 1/2 to 1", robust in form, resembling bumble bees. The male has a yellow face but with top surface of abdomen largely bare and shining and black in color. The eastern carpenter bee has a range that extends westward to Kansas and Texas. 
Honey bees may become troublesome when they swarm or build colonies in or near residential areas Honeybees occasionally invade homes and establish a colony, building combs of wax containing honey, pollen and brood in wall spaces.
Once established, a colony is difficult to remove because it usually involves structural modification of the building. To be effective, the honey and wax should be removed along with the bees or the site will remain attractive to other swarms.
Color: Golden-yellow with darker bands of brown.
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