Use the Bumble Bee Identifier to identify your Nebraska bumble bee specimens.

How does it work?
Most bumble bee species can be identified based on the color patterns of hair on different segments of their body. These color patterns are consistent for individuals of the same species and usually unique to a small number of species. The Bumble Bee Identifier works on the principle of matching the color patterns of a specimen to a graphic interface.
Click here to learn more about the graphic interface!


I know I have a female specimen

I know I have a male specimen

To use the identifier you must first know the gender of your bumble bee.

All bumble bees have three antennal segments: the scape, pedicel, and the flagellum.
The outermost segment the flagellum, has sub-segments called flagellar segments. Bumble bee antennae can be seen with a 10X hand lens or a dissecting scope.

All female bumble bees have 10 flagellar segments see fig. 1

All male bumble bees have 11 flagellar segments see fig. 2

Once you are confident of the gender of your specimen you can further distinguish what genus it belongs to.


fig. 1



fig. 2

There are two genera of bumble bees.
The first genus Bombus contains the true bumble bees that most people know about. They are characterized by having a worker caste that forages for pollen and nectar.
The second genus Psithyrus are parasitic, and do not have a worker caste. They depend soley on the true bumble bees in whose nest they are reared.

The Bumble Bee Identifier does not require that you know the genus of your bumble bee specimen. However, knowing the difference between the physical characteristics of Bombus and Psithyrus will help you determine the gender of your specimen.

All female Bombus have a pollen basket (corbiculum). see fig. 3

All male Bombus, Psithyrus, and female Psithyrus do not have a pollen basket (corbiculum). see fig. 4

Click on the link below that matches the gender your specimen.
female   male


fig. 3


fig. 4

The Bumble Bee Identifier is the intellectual property of and copyrighted by Doug Golick

Disclaimer:
Many of the species found in Nebraska are also found in other states. The Bumble Bee Identifer can be used to identify bumble bees outside of Nebraska. However, the accuracy of the identifier is greatly decreased due to the differences in apperance of Nebraska bumble bee species that occur outside of the state.

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