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NO. 022Common eastern bumblebee, female worker illustrationIllustration · not shown at life size

Bees & wasps / Insect

Common eastern bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

Adult · female workerAn everyday search

Look just behind the fuzzy middle: the first part of the abdomen is yellow. The rest is black.

Let’s look closer

Little clues

Three things to notice.

  1. First abdominal segment is yellow.

  2. Remaining abdominal segments are black.

  3. Females carry pollen on hind legs.

Out in the world

Where to look.

Around southeastern Wisconsin

Gardens through the growing season.

When to look

During the growing season, often continuing into fall.

Look closely. Leave your tiny neighbor where you found it.

A closer look

One clue is just the start.

Look at the abdomen, the back part of the body. On this species, only the first section is yellow; the rest is black.

A special find can be hard to spot without being biologically rare. Encounters depend on season and habitat.

Keep exploring

Meet the neighbors.

For curious grownups, too

Read a little further.

Original summaries, with references for deeper reading.

Make a creature disc

Artwork & downloads.

Drag a PNG image into xTool Studio, or use its download button. Images use the full-resolution files.

  • Common eastern bumblebee — Transparent front PNG

    Transparent front PNG

    76.2 mm canvas · white-outlined labels on a clear background

    022-front.png
    1800 × 1800 px

    Download PNG
  • Common eastern bumblebee — Relief depth PNG — prototype

    Relief depth PNG — prototype

    Matches this front · dark lettering 0.5 mm, outline 0.1 mm at 1 mm maximum

    022-height-disc.png
    1800 × 1800 px

    Download PNG
  • Common eastern bumblebee — Original artwork

    Original artwork

    Unmodified source PNG

    022-common-eastern-bumblebee.png
    1254 × 1254 px

    Download PNG

  • Editable front SVG

    Common & scientific names · finding clue · editable labels

    022-front.svg

    Download SVG

Front artwork is made for a 3-inch clear disc. Revised artwork still needs a physical check. Disc backs are blank; use the single carrier QR from the print studio to open the field guide.

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