Buff-tailed bumblebee — facts for kids
Bombus terrestris
The bumblebee is out early in spring, while it is still cold. She shivers her body warm enough to fly. When she visits a flower, pollen rides along in her fur to the next one — and that is how new flowers and new berries begin.
Field notes
How big?
About the size of a grape with wings
How heavy?
Lighter than a paper clip
What does it eat?
Nectar and pollen from flowers
When can you see it?
March to September, best in the sun
How big is it?
Buff-tailed bumblebee is about 2 cm long.
Look for this
Look for flowers bobbing when there is no wind. Sometimes you find a small hole in the ground — a nest may be down there.
How it sounds
A deep, calm buzz, much lower than a bee or a fly.
Fun to know
- A bumblebee can shiver herself warm enough to fly in the cold.
- She sees colours we cannot, and many flowers have secret lines pointing to the nectar.
- Without bumblebees there would be far fewer blueberries in the forest.
Questions kids ask about the buff-tailed bumblebee
Why do you buzz?
The buzz is my wings. They beat so fast that the air starts to hum.
What are you collecting?
Pollen and nectar. Pollen sticks to my fur and travels to the next flower, and that is how new flowers grow.
How do you find the flowers?
I see colours you cannot see. Many flowers have secret lines that point straight to the nectar.
Try it right here
Meet the buff-tailed bumblebee for real
Around Lake Sidsjön in Sundsvall, Sweden, the animals stand in their real places. Come within ten metres and the buff-tailed bumblebee comes alive in the phone and answers children's questions. The trail is in Swedish.