California Bumble Bee
Bombus californicus
This record describes Bombus californicus (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Color pattern of typical Californian females as in vosnesenskii but with all black hairs on head instead of extensive yellow hairs. Also malar space long and legs gangly. In the eastern portion of its range its color converges on fervidus , and the most extensively yellow californicus specimens are very difficult to separate from typical fervidus (see comments on taxonomy above) but have at least some black hairs on the terga (these can be inconspicuous) which are lacking in fervidus .
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
In California often found in oak woodland savannah at relatively low elevation
Geographic Range
western North America
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Often visits California poppies and Mariposa lilies (as do other bumble bees). The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Bombus californicus. 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 California Bumble Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hartmut Wisch; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , John S. Ascher
Frequently Asked Questions About California Bumble Bee
What is California Bumble Bee?
California Bumble Bee (Bombus californicus) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify California Bumble Bee?
Color pattern of typical Californian females as in vosnesenskii but with all black hairs on head instead of extensive yellow hairs. Also malar space long and legs gangly. In the eastern portion of its range its color converges on fervidus , and the most extensively yellow californicus specimens are very difficult to separate from typical fervidus (see comments on taxonomy above) but have at least some black hairs on the terga (these can be inconspicuous) which are lacking in fervidus .
Where is California Bumble Bee found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | In California often found in oak woodland savannah at relatively low elevation |
| Range | western North America |
What does California Bumble Bee eat?
The diet of the California Bumble Bee includes Often visits California poppies and Mariposa lilies (as do other bumble bees). The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..