Species Insects & ArthropodsBlack-and-gold Bumble Bee

Black-and-gold Bumble Bee

Bombus auricomus

UncommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Black-and-gold Bumble Bee (Bombus auricomus)

The Black-and-gold Bumble Bee is a large, boldly patterned species with golden-yellow thorax hair and black-and-yellow banded abdomen. It is associated with prairie habitats and has declined in parts of its range with the loss of native grasslands. It is an effective pollinator of a wide variety of wildflowers in open habitats.

Habitat
Native prairies, open meadows, and grassland edges
Diet
Adults: pollen and nectar from diverse wildflowers
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Black-and-gold Bumble Bee

The best time to see a Black-and-gold Bumble Bee is June–July, when about 68% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 14,034 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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