Black-and-gold Bumble Bee Bombus auricomus

This fuzzy golden-accented bumblebee is native to eastern North America, ranging from Ontario down through the eastern United States and across to the Great Plains. Bumblebees like this species are among nature's most dedicated pollinators, making them absolutely critical to wildflower and crop reproduction. Unlike honeybees' complex social structures, bumblebee colonies are smaller and more flexible, allowing them to thrive in cooler climates where honeybees struggle. Their furry bodies collect pollen efficiently as they buzz through summer flowers.