Lesser-Known Facts About Bumblebees

11Nov,2024

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Bumblebees have the ability to "shiver" by vibrating their flight muscles to warm up.

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They Can Regulate Their Body Temperature

There are over 250 species of bumblebees, but many, like the Rusty Patched Bumblebee, are endangered or critically threatened.

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Some Species Are Extremely Rare

Bumblebees use a technique called buzz pollination, where they rapidly vibrate their bodies to release pollen from flowers that other insects can't access, making them vital for pollinating plants like tomatoes and blueberries.

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They’re Built for Buzz Pollination

Bumblebees have excellent navigational skills, and research shows they use landmarks, the sun, and even patterns of polarized light in the sky to navigate back to their nest from miles away.

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Bumblebees Have Built-In GPS

Unlike honeybees, bumblebees don’t produce large quantities of honey. Instead, they make just enough to feed their young and keep the colony going during cooler days.

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They Only Make Enough Honey for Themselves

At the end of each season, only the queen survives by hibernating underground through the winter.

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Queen Bumblebees Hibernate Alone

Bumblebees have remarkable memories and can remember which flowers they’ve visited. This allows them to optimize their foraging route and avoid flowers they've already pollinated.

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They Can Remember Flower Locations