The Brown-belted Bumble Bee is a large, colorful bumblebee with a yellow thorax, a yellow first abdominal segment, and a distinctive patch of brown or rusty hair across the second segment — the 'brown belt.' It is one of the most common and widespread bumble bees in the central and eastern United States and is an important early and late-season pollinator. Colonies nest underground.
Best time to see a Brown-belted Bumble Bee
The best time to see a Brown-belted Bumble Bee is June–July, when about 69% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 104,919 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Brown-belted Bumble Bee? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Brown-belted Bumble Bee sightings near you
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