NORWICH — For us bee biologists, nothing says spring quite like the first bumble bee of the year. Sometime between late March and early May, a loud, familiar buzz will get our attention and we will once again get reacquainted with these charismatic minifauna.
For the more casual bee enthusiasts, species in this genus offer the perfect introduction to bee watching, they are larger than other bees, common, and sometimes identifiable! Unlike some genera of wild bees, most Bombus can be identified in the field or from photographs with a little practice. There are currently 13 species of bumble bee in Vermont, and we even have an easy-to-use guide to help you get started on your bee photograph collection.
For those of you who are birders, bumble bee identification is on par with identifyng Catharus thrushes. If you can tell a Veery from a Hermit Thrush, separating a Common Eastern Bumble Bee from a Brown-belted Bumble Bee shouldn’t be too daunting. Though, as with Bicknell’s and Gray-cheeked Thrushes, there are two bumble bees in Vermont (Half-black and Sanderson’s) that are best identified by measuring their “cheeks.” preferably under a microscope, though occasionally with a clear photo of the face.
In April and early May, one species of bumble bee is immediately recognizable: the Tricolored Bumble Bee. Look for a large patch of red on the abdomen of this early spring insect. If you live in the Champlain Valley, you might need to look more closely after late May to avoid confusing them with the uncommon Red-belted Bumble Bee, which has a similar abdomen pattern but with only a small black dot on the back.
Explore which species live in your area by filtering for location, and if you need help identifying the bees you encounter, consider sharing your photographs on iNaturalist. Check out these bee photography tips to get the best shot. Can’t find bumble bees in your neighborhood? Consider adding or encouraging more native plants or other habitat features.
Spencer Hardy is a staff member of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies in Norwich.
