: Despite old myths, bumblebees achieve flight through high-frequency wing movements that create unique patterns of lift, supported by powerful wing muscles. Life Cycle and Colony Behavior A typical bumblebee colony follows a seasonal cycle:
: The queen builds wax cells, lays eggs, and "broods" them until they hatch into workers. Bumblebee
: An inseminated queen emerges from hibernation (usually in the ground) and searches for a nesting site, often an abandoned rodent burrow. : Despite old myths, bumblebees achieve flight through
Bumblebees are easily identified by their "fuzzy" appearance, caused by insulating hairs that help them regulate their body temperature, a trait known as facultative endothermy. three simple eyes (ocelli)
: They possess two large compound eyes, three simple eyes (ocelli), and sensitive antennae used for detecting odors and ultraviolet light.
: Workers take over foraging duties, collecting pollen and nectar to feed the growing larvae.