Bumblebees are social insects often seen buzzing among flowers. While they live in colonies, they do not build large, complex structures like the perennial hives of honeybees. Instead, bumblebees create more modest, temporary nests.
Bumblebee Nests
Bumblebee nests are less complex than honeybee hives and are often found in sheltered, pre-existing cavities. These locations can vary widely, including abandoned rodent burrows underground, dense tussocks of grass, compost piles, or even disused bird nests and sheds above ground. A queen bumblebee, after emerging from hibernation, actively seeks out such a suitable dry and dark cavity to establish her new colony.
Once a site is chosen, the queen lines it with insulating materials like dry grass, leaves, or animal fur. Within this insulated space, she constructs small, irregular wax cells and pot-like structures. These wax pots are used for storing limited amounts of nectar and pollen, which serve as immediate food sources for the developing brood and the colony. Bumblebee nests also contain silk cocoons where the young develop into adult bees.
Bumblebee colonies are annual. The entire colony, including workers and the old queen, typically dies off as winter approaches. Only new, mated queens survive winter by hibernating, emerging in spring to start new nests. Colony populations are much smaller than honeybee colonies, usually ranging from 40 to 400 individuals, though some can reach up to 1,700 bees.
Distinguishing Nests from Honeybee Hives
The living structures of bumblebees and honeybees exhibit several key differences. Honeybees construct elaborate, highly organized hives characterized by precise hexagonal wax comb structures used for brood rearing and extensive food storage. In contrast, bumblebee nests appear much less organized, lacking the uniform hexagonal cells, and are often described as having a messy appearance.
Their longevity is another significant distinction. Bumblebee colonies are annual, with only new queens surviving winter to found new colonies. Honeybee colonies, however, are perennial, persisting through colder months. This perennial nature allows honeybee colonies to grow to much larger sizes.
Honey storage also differs considerably between the two bee types. Bumblebees produce and store only small quantities of nectar and pollen, often referred to as “nectar pots,” which are primarily for immediate consumption by the colony and its developing young. They do not process nectar into the large, dehydrated honey reserves that honeybees are known for, nor do they store it for long-term survival or human harvest. Honeybees, conversely, are prolific producers and storers of honey, accumulating large amounts to sustain their large colonies through winter.
The scale of their populations further highlights differences. Bumblebee colonies are considerably smaller, typically housing 40 to 400 individuals, though some can reach up to 1,700 bees. Honeybee colonies are vastly larger, often consisting of tens of thousands, with populations sometimes reaching 50,000 to 60,000 individuals. This difference in colony size reflects their distinct life cycles and survival strategies.