Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee
Bombus flavifrons
This record describes Bombus flavifrons (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The typical form is very similar to B. centralis in that a yellow T1-T2 contrast with a red T3-T4, but flavifrons has a longer malar space and black hairs intermixed on the scutum anterior to the black interalar band.
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
Tends to be more humid and forested or at higher elevations than cnetralis.
Geographic Range
Widely distributed in North America. Well known from the Pacific Northwest and high elevations in the Rocky Mountains.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Long-tongued for its subgenus so visits flowers with rather long corolla tubes. The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author: Cresson, 1863
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Bombus flavifrons. 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 Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by John S. Ascher
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee
What is Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee?
Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee (Bombus flavifrons) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee?
The typical form is very similar to B. centralis in that a yellow T1-T2 contrast with a red T3-T4, but flavifrons has a longer malar space and black hairs intermixed on the scutum anterior to the black interalar band.
Where is Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Tends to be more humid and forested or at higher elevations than cnetralis. |
| Range | Widely distributed in North America. Well known from the Pacific Northwest and high elevations in the Rocky Mountains. |
What does Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee eat?
The diet of the Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee includes Long-tongued for its subgenus so visits flowers with rather long corolla tubes. The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images..