Southern Plains Bumble Bee
Bombus fraternus
This record describes Bombus fraternus (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Black interalar band broad and well defined. T3 black (as opposed to yellow in auricomus and sonorus). T2 entirely yellow-tan (lacking the black apicolateral corners typical of griseocollis). see detailed description of queen and male at discoverlife.org Has disappeared from the northern margins of its range, with few or no records from the northernmost states where recorded historically, but still regularly encountered in its core range on the southern Great Plains, and still found in the Southeastern United States.
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
Typically prairies and similar open sites
Geographic Range
Historic records come from e US to NM (MI;IL;IN;OH;KY;NJ;MD;DE;VA;DC;TN;NC;SC;MS;AL;GA;FL;IA;MO;AR;LA;SD;NE;KS;OK;TX;CO;NM) and Mexico: Chihuahua. Map - Discover Life
Seasonal Activity
March to November
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Bombus fraternus. 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 Southern Plains Bumble Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Mike Quinn , John S. Ascher , hg
Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Plains Bumble Bee
What is Southern Plains Bumble Bee?
Southern Plains Bumble Bee (Bombus fraternus) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Southern Plains Bumble Bee?
queen: body length 21-27 mm male: 19-25 mm worker: 13-18 mm
How do you identify Southern Plains Bumble Bee?
Black interalar band broad and well defined. T3 black (as opposed to yellow in auricomus and sonorus). T2 entirely yellow-tan (lacking the black apicolateral corners typical of griseocollis). see detailed description of queen and male at discoverlife.org
Where is Southern Plains Bumble Bee found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Typically prairies and similar open sites |
| Range | Historic records come from e US to NM (MI;IL;IN;OH;KY;NJ;MD;DE;VA;DC;TN;NC;SC;MS;AL;GA;FL;IA;MO;AR;LA;SD;NE;KS;OK;TX;CO;NM) and Mexico: Chihuahua. Map - Discover Life |
What does Southern Plains Bumble Bee eat?
The diet of the Southern Plains Bumble Bee includes The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Southern Plains Bumble Bee active?
Southern Plains Bumble Bee: seasonal activity - March to November.