Bombus fervidus (Bumble Bee) - Middle Grassland Herbivores

Bombus fervidus (Bumble Bee)
Animal Diversity Web
University of Michigan
Museum of Zoology

Habitat
The Golden Northern bumble bee lives and nest in grassy, open areas which include forest clearings and along roadsides. Nests are found both above and below the ground, however the above ground is most common. A nesting site is usually at least 50 meters from an area where food is plentiful enough to feed the entire colony. (Heinrich, 1979; Moran, 2005; Plath, 1934)

Food Habits
Bombus fervidus is a nectarivore. These bees feed on the nectar of angiosperms and aid in the pollination of these plants. The bees' long tongues enable them to reach into long flowers, extracting the nectar before another competitor has the chance. These bees are also very quick workers. Thier quickness is sometimes harmful to their health, as they sometimes work for too long at the rapid pace that is normal to their species, and have been known to die of exhaustion.

This particular bumble bee searches for food during the afternoon in the heat of the day. One individual of B. fervidus has been known to visit as many as forty-four flower blossoms per minute. Each visited blossom contains around .05 mg of sugar, if it has not been previously foraged by other insects. Bombus fervidus can extract around 2.2 mg of sugar per minute. In addition to nectar, adult bees will chew pollen grains mixing them with saliva in order to make honey. This honey is then fed to larvae and the queen. Because of their fast work, these bees can have very high populations.

Foods eaten: Aster, Black-eyed Susan, Common Milkweed, Queen Anne's Lace, Dandelions, Bull Thistle, Goldenrod, Jewelweed, Devil's Beggartick, Joe-pye Weed, Climbing Bittersweet, Black Willow, Yellow Poplar, American Holly, Ragweed, Greater Bladderwort, Blueberry, Jimsonweed, Honeysuckle, Rose Mallow. (Heinrich, 1979; Moran, 2005)

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