Two-spotted Bumble Bee

B. bimaculatus is mainly found in eastern temperate forest regions throughout the United States and the southeastern part of Canada. It can also live in the coastal plains of the southeastern United States, the eastern Boreal forest, and the eastern Great Plains. This bee lives in underground nests, preferably in or around wooden areas and gardens. Nests can be anywhere from 6 inches to a foot below the surface. Tunnels traveling to the nest range from 9 inches to 4 feet long. B. bimaculatus can also nest above ground or in cavities. Bees do not build nests and instead rely on finding abandoned rodent dens, hollow logs, suitable man-made structures, or tussocks. Queens will hibernate in loose dirt or rotting logs. This bumble bee is very common and has been experiencing steady growth unlike many other bumble bees that are in decline.

Bumble bees eat nectar and pollen from plants. B. bimaculatus is known to pollinate a wide variety of plants, but they seem to have favorites. Queens can be found on willow and plum. Workers are found on red clover and mint. Males are found on mint and sweet clover.

As a species they have been found foraging at the following plants:

Zenobia pulverulenta Gelsemium sempervirens Lyonia lucida Solanum dulcamara Aquilegia species Dicentra species Mertensia species Pedicularis species Aesculus glabra Camassia scilloides Delphinium tricorne Hydrophyllum appendiculatum