Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee
Bombus insularis
This record describes Bombus insularis (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Commonly encountered in Canada and forested areas of the western United States, but rarely found in the northeastern United States where restricted to northern and montane sites
Seasonal Activity
May to August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Social parasites of other bumble bees. Both sexes regularly visit flowers for nectar including composites. The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author: Smith, 1861.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Bombus insularis. 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 Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , John S. Ascher
Frequently Asked Questions About Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee
How big is Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee?
Female: 16-19 mm. Male 13-16 mm.
Where is Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee found?
Range: Commonly encountered in Canada and forested areas of the western United States, but rarely found in the northeastern United States where restricted to northern and montane sites
What does Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee eat?
The diet of the Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee includes Social parasites of other bumble bees. Both sexes regularly visit flowers for nectar including composites. The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee active?
Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee: seasonal activity - May to August..