Black-and-gold Bumble Bee
Bombus auricomus
This record describes Bombus auricomus (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Mullerian mimic of B. pensylvanicus . Note the following: See detailed descriptions Males with large eyes strongly convergent above and modified antennae. This species is variable in hair color with dark females readily confused with B. pensylvanicus and pale ones with B. nevadensis . Has likely declined in northeastern North America due in part to regrowth of forests and decrease in grassland habitat
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Apidae (Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees)
- Subfamily
- Apinae
- Tribe
- Bombini
- Genus
- Bombus (Bumble Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Favors prairies and grasslands and rarely found in extensive forests.
Geographic Range
North America east of the Rocky Mountains ( map ). Widely distributed in the eastern USA but no records from northern New England (unrecorded from ME, VT, and also RI) or from lowlands of the southeastern coastal plain (no confirmed records from SC, though likely occurs there at higher elevations, or from MS and FL. Recorded from all central states except LA and in eastern MT, WY, and CO (replaced in the west of those states by B. nevadensis ). In Canada restricted to the south where known from southern Ontario. It may occur west at least to Manitoba, but its distributional limits to the west has been obscured by convergence in color pattern with B. nevadensis ). Distributional summary by John S. Ascher (Feb 2014).
Seasonal Activity
A late-emerging species
Diet and Behavior
Diet: recorded hosts
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Bombus auricomus ( Robertson 1903)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Bombus auricomus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Black-and-gold Bumble Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by cotinis , Robin McLeod , John S. Ascher , v belov , hg
Frequently Asked Questions About Black-and-gold Bumble Bee
What is Black-and-gold Bumble Bee?
Black-and-gold Bumble Bee (Bombus auricomus) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Black-and-gold Bumble Bee?
Large: queen 20-25 mm, male 17-20 mm, worker 18-20 mm
How do you identify Black-and-gold Bumble Bee?
Mullerian mimic of B. pensylvanicus . Note the following: See detailed descriptions Males with large eyes strongly convergent above and modified antennae. This species is variable in hair color with dark females readily confused with B. pensylvanicus and pale ones with B. nevadensis .
Where is Black-and-gold Bumble Bee found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Favors prairies and grasslands and rarely found in extensive forests. |
| Range | North America east of the Rocky Mountains ( map ). Widely distributed in the eastern USA but no records from northern New England (unrecorded from ME, VT, and also RI) or from lowlands of the southeastern coastal plain (no confirmed records from SC, though likely occurs there at higher elevations, or from MS and FL. Recorded from all central states except LA and in eastern MT, WY, and CO (replaced in the west of those states by B. nevadensis ). In Canada restricted to the south where known from southern Ontario. It may occur west at least to Manitoba, but its distributional limits to the west has been obscured by convergence in color pattern with B. nevadensis ). Distributional summary by John S. Ascher (Feb 2014). |
What does Black-and-gold Bumble Bee eat?
The diet of the Black-and-gold Bumble Bee includes recorded hosts.
When is Black-and-gold Bumble Bee active?
Black-and-gold Bumble Bee: seasonal activity - A late-emerging species.