Results for “where do bumble bees live” · retrieved September 22, 2026

Quick answer

Bumble bees typically nest in dry, protected cavities such as abandoned rodent burrows, thick grass, or man-made structures like birdhouses and sheds.

Bumble bees are opportunistic nesters that typically seek out dry, protected, and insulated cavities. They most commonly nest underground in abandoned rodent burrows, but they also frequently use surface locations such as thick grass, mossy vegetation, or compost heaps. In urban and suburban environments, they may occupy man-made structures like birdhouses, wall cavities, sheds, or even patio furniture. They generally avoid wet areas and locations that receive excessive direct sunlight, which can cause the nest to overheat. Their choice of nesting site is often independent of the immediate proximity to flowers, as they are capable of foraging over long distances.

Answer details

1

Underground Burrows

The most common nesting sites are underground, particularly in abandoned rodent holes that provide natural insulation and protection.

2

Surface Nesting

Bumble bees also nest on the surface in areas with thick grass, moss, or vegetation, as well as in compost heaps.

3

Man-made Structures

In human-altered landscapes, they may use birdhouses, wall cavities, spaces under sheds, or even patio furniture cushions.

4

Geographic Range and Habitat

Bumble bees are found across temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and Asia, inhabiting diverse environments like grasslands, forests, and urban areas.

projectinsect.com

Where Do Bumblebees Live? Nests, Range, and Climate Limits – Project Insect

Where do bumblebees live? Mostly in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, nesting underground in abandoned rodent burrows, under grass tussocks, or in compost heaps and old sheds. The genus Bombus includes around 250 species worldwide, with close to 50 found north of Mexico. Their thick, insulating pile of hair lets them forage in conditions that ground most other bees, including light rain and temperatures barely above freezing....Bumble

June 30, 2025

xerces.org

About Bumble Bees | Xerces Society

All bumble bees belong to the genus Bombus within...family Apidae. The family Apidae includes the well-known honey bees and bumble bees, as well as carpenter bees, cuckoo bees, digger bees, stingless bees, and orchid bees. Bumble bees are important pollinators of wild flowering plants and crops. As generalist foragers, they do not depend on any one flower type. However, some plants do rely on bumble bees to achieve pollination. Loss of bumble bee

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fs.usda.gov

Bumblebees

Bumblebees (of the genus Bombus) are common native bees and important pollinators in most areas of North America. In spring, queens emerge from underground where they have spent the winter, and look for a nest site, often found underground in an old mouse nest or rodent burrow. Bumblebees visit flowers for the nectar and pollen upon which they feed, and once the eggs they lay have hatched, they use those plant resources to feed larval worker bees

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nestquest.umn.edu

Bumble bee nesting 101

Bumble bees often nest in abandoned rodent dens underground or under tufts of grass. Rodents create spacious shelters and fill them with insulating materials, like grass, plant stems and fur, creating a protected place to live. This i nsulation helps regulate the tempertature of the nest so on gathering pollen and nectar to support her colony. Once the rodent moves out, bumble bees find these dens and set up their homes for the growing season - T

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tpwd.texas.gov

Bumble Bee Life-Cycle - Texas Parks and Wildlife

Of the hundreds of bee species native to Texas, bumble bees are among the most familiar. Only a handful of bees are as large as bumble bees and few are as hairy. Their fuzzy black and yellow bodies are easy to recognize as they buzz from flower to flower. Over 50 species of bumble bee occur across North America. A total of nine bumble bees have been documented from Texas. Bumble bee diversity in Texas is highest in the eastern half of the state a

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animaldiversity.org

Bombus | INFORMATION | Animal Diversity Web

The genus Bombus, commonly known...bumble bees, includes 260 species worldwide. In North America,...are 43 species in the west...24 in the east, and 18 in...Bartlett,...Colla, et...Bumble bees are found in the temperate regions of North, Central, and South America, Europe, and Asia. They are not found in Australia, parts of India, and most of Africa. (Colla, et al., 2011)...Bumble bees inhabit a broad habitat, including urban areas, suburban loca

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wisconsinbumblebees.entomology.wisc.edu

Life Cycle and Biology – Bumble Bees of Wisconsin

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bumblebeeconservation.org

Bumblebee nests

Most bumblebee queens look for dry, enclosed spaces which have some sort of insulating material already inside. Nests can be found in all sorts of unexpected places but, in general, bumblebees avoid wet areas and locations that get lots of sun as this can heat the nest up too much....Some species are commonly found nesting underground, in places such as abandoned rodent holes, under sheds and in compost heaps. Others prefer to be on the surface o

March 14, 2024

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