Common Eastern bumble bee

The common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) is so named because it is native to the eastern part of North America. They are native from Ontario to Maine and south to Florida; introduced in California and in British Columbia, Canada. Queen bees are larger than both the drones and workers, ranging from 17 to 21 mm long. Drones are between 12 and 17 mm long and typically black. Workers are between 8.5 and 16 mm long and resemble the queen. Bombus impatiens nest in open fields and woods.
Bumble bees are social bees and have annual nests. A queen will emerge from hibernation in early spring and start her own colony. Worker bees develop first, followed by males and new queens towards the end of summer. A bumble bee nest often contains between 300 and 500 individuals. Newly mated queens will hibernate in the ground over winter; worker bees, males, and the old queen die in the fall. Bumble bees eat only nectar and pollen and do not produce large amounts of honey.