Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus)
Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus)
The fuzzy-horned bumble bee is one of the five most common bumble bee species in my neighborhood (North Seattle, WA), and it was the most frequently seen in my yard in 2024.
This species’ most distinct feature is the orange hair near the end of the abdomen, typically on segments T4 and T5 in females and T4 through T6 in males (T6 in females and T7 in males are hardly visible). This orange area is preceded by a black band on the mid-abdomen, usually covering T3 but sometimes extending to T2 and part of T4. The rest of the body appears 'clouded' (yellow and black hair intermixed) in females and mostly yellow in males.
I occasionally found fuzzy-horned bumble bees in mid-elevation.
For more details, refer to page 58 of Bumble Bees of the Western United States.
Queens are large and are often observed in early spring, late summer, and fall. In 2024, I first spotted a queen in my yard on March 30th, and they continued to appear until mid-April. Queens born in 2024 occasionally visited my yard between July and August. Click to view more queen photos in the Google Photo Album.
Workers share the same color pattern as queens but are much smaller. In 2024, I spotted the first worker in my yard on April 26th. Worker numbers peaked from late May to early June, with the last sighting on July 16th. Click to view more worker photos in the Google Photo Album.
Drones (males) share a similar color pattern to females on their abdomen, but their thorax and head have significantly more yellow hair. In 2024, I spotted the first drone in my yard on May 8th, and the last on August 3rd. Click to view more drone photos in the Google Photo Album.