Andean Red Bumble Bee Bombus rubicundus
(c) Sebastián Ordóñez, some rights reserved (CC BY)
OrderAnts, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies (Hymenoptera)
FamilyHoney Bees, Bumble Bees, and Allies (Apidae)
GenusBumble Bees (Bombus)
Over 250 species of bumblebees exist worldwide, with this Andean species as one of them. What makes bumblebees remarkable? Females can sting repeatedly without harming themselves—unlike honeybees—making them formidable if provoked. Yet despite powerful stingers and fuzzy intimidating appearance, they're surprisingly docile and peaceful.
They'll ignore humans and other animals unless provoked, trusting their confident buzz over aggression. European species have been introduced to New Zealand and Tasmania, spreading their gentle temperament worldwide and thriving in ecosystems far from their Northern Hemisphere homes. A truly global success story.
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