Forest Bumble Bee
Bombus sylvicola
This record describes Bombus sylvicola (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Hair coat long and shaggy with the yellow tending towards a grayish hue and the red typically dark (not orangey). Females have a black face with only a small pale spot of hairs on the lower face whereas in bifarius and huntii the face usually has mostly pale hairs. The interalar band is broader than in B. huntii and extends further posteriorly in a notch, but this notch does not extend to the rear of the segment (unlike bifarius) and is somewhat obscured by surrounding long pale hairs.
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
A northern species typical of the northern forests of Canada and the higher mountains of western North America. Unknown from the northeastern United States (putative records are surely misdetermined).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: 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: Sylvicola is Latin for inhabiting woods.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Bombus sylvicola. 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 Forest Bumble Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , John S. Ascher , Vox Sciurorum
Frequently Asked Questions About Forest Bumble Bee
What is Forest Bumble Bee?
Forest Bumble Bee (Bombus sylvicola) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Forest Bumble Bee?
Appears relatively large, in part due to its shaggy coat.
How do you identify Forest Bumble Bee?
Hair coat long and shaggy with the yellow tending towards a grayish hue and the red typically dark (not orangey). Females have a black face with only a small pale spot of hairs on the lower face whereas in bifarius and huntii the face usually has mostly pale hairs. The interalar band is broader than in B. huntii and extends further posteriorly in a notch, but this notch does not extend to the rear of the segment (unlike bifarius) and is somewhat obscured by surrounding long pale hairs.
Where is Forest Bumble Bee found?
Range: A northern species typical of the northern forests of Canada and the higher mountains of western North America. Unknown from the northeastern United States (putative records are surely misdetermined).
What does Forest Bumble Bee eat?
The diet of the Forest Bumble Bee includes The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images..