Great Yellow Bumble Bee
Bombus distinguendus
This record describes Bombus distinguendus (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Difficult Few North American records.
Identification notes
Difficult
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
Geographic Range
An Old World species recently found to occur in Alaska as well.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Common names refers to its large size and its color. Author: Morawitz, 1869
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Bombus distinguendus. 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 Great Yellow Bumble Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , hg
Frequently Asked Questions About Great Yellow Bumble Bee
What is Great Yellow Bumble Bee?
Great Yellow Bumble Bee (Bombus distinguendus) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Great Yellow Bumble Bee?
Large
How do you identify Great Yellow Bumble Bee?
Difficult
Where is Great Yellow Bumble Bee found?
Range: An Old World species recently found to occur in Alaska as well.