Bombus | |
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Female Bombus terrestris cutting a flower to take its nectar | |
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Tribe: | Bombini |
Genus: | Bombus Latreille, 1802 |
Species | |
More than 250 species in 15 subgenera. |
Bumblebees (or Bumble bees, or Humble bees) are a group of social and semi-social bees, of the genus Bombus. The genus contains about 250 different species, mostly in the Northern Hemisphere. They can also be found in New Zealand and Tasmania. They occur practically everywhere on the Eurasian landmass.
Most bumblebees live in small groups, which generally last only for a year. They collect pollen as protein for their young, and themselves eat nectar. They are extremely hairy, with a covering of soft hairs called a pile.