Bug FAQTree Bumble Bee
Bombus hypnorum · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Apidae
Also called: New Garden Bumblebee, Tree Bumblebee
Source: Wikipedia
Tree bumblebees often live near houses and build nests above ground, sometimes in bird boxes. Workers are usually small, drones are much larger, and queens vary in size. They favor flowering trees like hawthorn and blackthorn but will visit many other plants.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Workers are often small, while drones are much bigger; queen size varies.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
They are generally docile but will defend their nest and can sting if they perceive a threat.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They are commonly found near human settlements and prefer nests above ground, often using bird boxes.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They strongly prefer flowering trees such as hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), but also visit many other plants like rhododendron, cherry, grape hyacinth, blueberry and Vaccinium.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
A single queen starts a nest in March.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The first generation finishes from mid-May to early July, with a possible smaller second generation later in the summer.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 1 of 51 states and DC. Most records: New York.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Questions people ask
Where do tree bumblebees build their nests?
They usually nest above ground, often in bird boxes near human dwellings.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do they visit?
They favor hawthorn and blackthorn trees but also visit many other flowering plants such as rhododendron, cherry, and blueberries.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Apidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombus_hypnorum
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.