Plants and Animals
Bombus fervidus Yellow bumble bee
Key Characteristics
The yellow bumble bee is a medium sized bumble bee, with queens ranging from 18-21 mm and workers ranging from 11-17 mm. Queens and workers are similar in appearance. They have black hairs on the top of the head and face. The dorsal side of the thorax is mainly yellow with a black band between the wings, which is often narrow. Abdominal segments T1-4 are yellow and T5 is black. Some individuals have a predominately black T2-3. Males range from 13-16 mm in size and are similar in appearance to queens/workers but have yellow hairs interspersed on the top of the head and face (Williams et al. 2014).
Status and Rank
US Status: No Status/Not Listed
State Status: SC - Special Concern (rare or uncertain; not legally protected)
Global Rank: G3G4 - Rank is uncertain, ranging from vulnerable to apparently secure
State Rank: S3 - Vulnerable
Occurrences
| County | Number of Occurrences | Year Last Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Allegan | 1 | 2023 |
| Barry | 2 | 2024 |
| Berrien | 3 | 2025 |
| Calhoun | 1 | 2021 |
| Cass | 3 | 2024 |
| Clinton | 1 | 2021 |
| Genesee | 2 | 2020 |
| Gratiot | 2 | 2021 |
| Hillsdale | 1 | 2020 |
| Ingham | 1 | 2023 |
| Ionia | 2 | 2022 |
| Jackson | 3 | 2024 |
| Kalamazoo | 5 | 2025 |
| Kent | 3 | 2024 |
| Lenawee | 2 | 2025 |
| Monroe | 1 | 2024 |
| Newaygo | 1 | 2021 |
| Oakland | 3 | 2025 |
| Schoolcraft | 1 | 2020 |
| St. Joseph | 1 | 2021 |
| Tuscola | 1 | 2022 |
| Van Buren | 3 | 2025 |
| Washtenaw | 3 | 2021 |
| Wayne | 3 | 2024 |
| Wexford | 1 | 2021 |
Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.
Habitat
This species can be found in open farmland and fields (Colla and Dumesh 2010). Known foraging resources include milkvetches (Astragalus spp.), thistles (Cirsium spp.), sunflowers (Helianthus spp.), honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.), and beardtongues (Penstemon spp.), among other species (Williams et al. 2014).
Natural Community Types
- Dry-mesic prairie
- Lakeplain oak openings
- Mesic prairie
- Oak openings
- Oak-pine barrens
- Pine barrens
- Prairie fen
- Wet prairie
For each species, lists of natural communities were derived from review of the nearly 6,500 element occurrences in the MNFI database, in addition to herbarium label data for some taxa. In most cases, at least one specimen record exists for each listed natural community. For certain taxa, especially poorly collected or extirpated species of prairie and savanna habitats, natural community lists were derived from inferences from collection sites and habitat preferences in immediately adjacent states (particularly Indiana and Illinois). Natural communities are not listed for those species documented only from altered or ruderal habitats in Michigan, especially for taxa that occur in a variety of habitats outside of the state.
Natural communities are not listed in order of frequency of occurrence, but are rather derived from the full set of natural communities, organized by Ecological Group. In many cases, the general habitat descriptions should provide greater clarity and direction to the surveyor. In future versions of the Rare Species Explorer, we hope to incorporate natural community fidelity ranks for each taxon.
Management Recommendations
Formerly common and widespread, this species has recently experienced significant declines throughout its historic range (Colla et al. 2012). Multiple stressors can be blamed for this decline, including the spread of pathogens from commercial bumble bee colonies used in greenhouses (pathogen spillover), widespread use of neonicotinoids, a pesticide group that is highly toxic to bees, and habitat loss due to an increase in agriculture and urbanization (Colla and Packer 2008, COSEWIC 2010, Grixti et al. 2009). Conservation efforts should center around preserving natural habitat patches, promoting reestablishment of native wildflowers, and reducing the use of pesticides and herbicides.
Active Period
Flight from first week of May to fourth week of September
Survey Methods
Surveys typically involve capturing foraging bumble bees with an aerial net and identifying the individual species (Colla and Packer 2008, Grixti et al. 2009).
Aerial net
Survey Period: From first week of May to fourth week of September
Time of Day: Daytime
Visual survey
Survey Period: From first week of May to fourth week of September
Time of Day: Daytime
References
Survey References
- Colla, S.R. and L. Packer. 2008. Evidence for decline in eastern North American bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae), with special focus on Bombus affinis Cresson. Biodiversity and Conservation 17: 1379-91.
- Grixti, J.C., L.T. Wong, S.A. Cameron and C. Favret. 2009. Decline of bumble bees (Bombus) in the North American Midwest. Biological Conservation 142: 75-84.
Technical References
- Colla, S.R. and S. Dumesh. 2010. The Bumble Bees of Southern Ontario: Notes on Natural History and Distribution. Journal of the Entomological Society of Ontario 141:38-67.
- Colla, S.R., F. Gadallah, L. Richardson, D. Wagner, and L. Gall. 2012. Assessing declines of North American bumble bees (Bombus spp.) using museum specimens. Biodiversity and Conservation 21(14): 3585-3595.
- COSEWIC. 2010. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Rusty-patched Bumble Bee Bombus affinis in Canada. Commitee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 34pp.
- Williams, P.H., R.W. Thorp, L.L. Richardson, and S.R. Colla. 2014. Bumble bees of North America: an identification guide. Princeton University Press.