Flavid Cuckoo Bumble Bee
Bombus flavidus
This record describes Bombus flavidus (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Males often have a distinctive ring-like band of yellow on T4 more or less contrasting with the color of the other tergites (T1-T3 vary from mostly black to mostly yellow) and especially with T5 which is mostly black. Similar species have more pale hairs on T5 laterally so don't have such a well-defined subterminal ring. Both sexes often have a black face contrasting with extensive yellow hairs on the vertex. The distinctive projecting and shape of the female apical sternum is rarely visible in images. Males have rather long malar spaces. Cuckoo bumble bees are social parasites within the hives of other Bombus species. They don't have workers and lack pollen and nectar collecting equipment. Recent genetic work has suggested this species should be included under the Old World Bombus flavidus : Lhomme, et al. Diversification Pattern of the Widespread Holarctic Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Bombus flavidus (Hymenoptera: Apidae): The East Side Story. Insect Systematics and Diversity, Volume 5, Issue 2, March 2021, 5, https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixab007 .
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
Widespread in Canada and the United States, from Alaska to California in the West, New Brunswick to North Carolina in the East. Discover Life Global Map
Seasonal Activity
June to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Social parasites of other bumble bees including. Both sexes regularly visit flowers for nectar. The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Life History
Overwintered, mated females can be observed seeking the hives of their hosts in the spring. In late summer and fall males and young queens can be observed on flowers.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author of species is Franklin, 1911.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Bombus flavidus. 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 Flavid Cuckoo Bumble Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by cotinis , john and jane balaban , Beatriz Moisset , Ted Kropiewnicki , John S. Ascher
Frequently Asked Questions About Flavid Cuckoo Bumble Bee
What is Flavid Cuckoo Bumble Bee?
Flavid Cuckoo Bumble Bee (Bombus flavidus) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Flavid Cuckoo Bumble Bee?
Relatively small. Female: 14.5-17 mm. Male: 13-15 mm (no workers).
How do you identify Flavid Cuckoo Bumble Bee?
Males often have a distinctive ring-like band of yellow on T4 more or less contrasting with the color of the other tergites (T1-T3 vary from mostly black to mostly yellow) and especially with T5 which is mostly black. Similar species have more pale hairs on T5 laterally so don't have such a well-defined subterminal ring. Both sexes often have a black face contrasting with extensive yellow hairs on the vertex. The distinctive projecting and shape of the female apical sternum is rarely visible in images. Males have rather long malar spaces.
Where is Flavid Cuckoo Bumble Bee found?
Range: Widespread in Canada and the United States, from Alaska to California in the West, New Brunswick to North Carolina in the East. Discover Life Global Map
What does Flavid Cuckoo Bumble Bee eat?
The diet of the Flavid Cuckoo Bumble Bee includes Social parasites of other bumble bees including. Both sexes regularly visit flowers for nectar. The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Flavid Cuckoo Bumble Bee active?
Flavid Cuckoo Bumble Bee: seasonal activity - June to September..
What is the life cycle of a Flavid Cuckoo Bumble Bee?
Overwintered, mated females can be observed seeking the hives of their hosts in the spring. In late summer and fall males and young queens can be observed on flowers.