09/14/2026
Did you know Wisconsin is home to about 21 species of bumblebees? 🐝
Here in Milwaukee County, we’ve recorded around 12 different species—including one of our largest, the Black-and-Gold Bumble Bee (Bombus auricomus)!
At first glance, this big, fuzzy bee is hard to miss. Look for:
🖤 A mostly black thorax
💛 Bright yellow hairs on the middle abdominal segments
🖤 A black hind end
🪽 Distinctively dark wings
🐝 A long cheek or face and short, even hair
Queens can reach nearly 1 inch long, making them an impressive sight as they forage among the flowers!
The Black-and-Gold Bumble Bee is widespread across eastern North America, but Wisconsin is near the northern edge of its range, where it is considered uncommon. Most Wisconsin observations come from the southern half of the state.
Like other bumblebees, Black-and-Gold Bumblebees live in colonies started by a single queen. New queens and males are produced later in the summer, and only the newly mated queens survive the winter. In spring, those queens emerge to find a nest, gather food, lay eggs, and raise the first generation of workers. 🐝🌼
This species favors grasslands, old fields, and open farmland, and it needs access to flowering plants throughout its life cycle. As a long-tongued bumblebee, it visits flowers such as prairie clovers, coneflowers, bee balms, thistles, Joe-Pye w**d, penstemons, clovers, and vetches.
So the next time you’re exploring a prairie or meadow, keep an eye out for this striking Wisconsin bumblebee! 🌻
Have you spotted a Black-and-Gold Bumble Bee (Bombus auricomus) in Milwaukee County?
📸: Wehr Nature Center
