The Golden Northern Bumble Bee is a large, mostly yellow bumble bee with black hair only on the central thorax and tip of abdomen, giving it a remarkably golden appearance. It was once abundant but has experienced significant range contraction and population decline in recent decades, possibly due to pathogen spillover from managed bumble bees. It is now considered a species of conservation concern.
Best time to see a Golden Northern Bumble Bee
The best time to see a Golden Northern Bumble Bee is May–July, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 13,840 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Golden Northern Bumble Bee? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Golden Northern Bumble Bee sightings near you
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