Identifying Bumblebees - A Guide - Buzzing About Bees

It can be tricky identifying bumblebees given that there are over 250 species of them across the world and they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Fortunately, with the right information and some practice, it is possible to learn how to quickly identify them. In this guide, we cover the different colors, shapes, and sizes of bumble bee specie and other tips for quickly recognizing them in the wild.Identification by Tail color – Step 1Bumblebees can be divided into three distinct categories based on the color of their tail:. They consist of white-tailed (encompassing shades from off-white to yellow), red-tailed, and uniform-tailed bees. This last category consists of bees whose tails are the same color as the rest of the abdomen, which is usually a ginger hue. All three categories of bumblebees are important pollinators and help to maintain the health of their local environment.Banding – Step 2Banding of Social White-tailed Bumble BeesThe white-tailed bumblebee may have any...