Where are bumblebees found?
Bumblebees are found in cold and high-altitude environments in the temperate regions of Americas, Europe and Asia. In India, they are found in the Himalayas and Northeast India.
What is the ecological role of bumblebees?
Bumblebees are the most important pollinator in alpine ecosystems. They efficiently pollinate in low light, cold and windy areas.
What is the lifecycle of bumblebees?
Bumblebees establish nests and lay eggs in soil cavities or abandoned burrows. It takes approximately 30 days for the eggs to transform into adults, when the workers emerge and maintain the colony. The colony peaks with 100 to 350 bees in the summer. New queen and the males emerge in late summer and only the future queens last the winter.
What are the threats that bumblebees face?
Shrinking range due to climate change, land-use change and pesticide use are the main threats that bumblebees face.
About the Authors
Femi Ezhuthupallickal Benny
Femi is a PhD student at University College London (UCL), working on the ecology and behavior of Asian giant hornets. Passionate about insects, especially wasps, she loves fieldwork in underexplored places, studying how insects interact with their environment and discovering new species while at it!
