The bumblebee, a cultivator's assistant
The bumblebee is easily spotted because of its size and its beautiful coilours. Like the honeybee, it belongs to the Apidae family. There are around 200 different species of bumblebee throughout the world. They are especially present in the temperate regions of Europe, North America and Asia. They can also be found in the Arctic regions, but not in tropical areas, nor in Australia. 34 different species exist in France, 12 of which are quite common.
The colony
Bumblebee colonies consist of sexed individuals (the queen and the males) and sterile ones (the workers). Like the honeybee, the females (queen and workers) are capable of stinging. The colonies have an annual cycle. The queen, who lives for around 12 months, founds the colony. The workers have a lifespan of around 2 months. Only the impregnated queens hibernate. They form the link between the two generations.
An excellent pollinator
The bumblebee is an excellent pollinator, even in difficult conditions. It is capable of working in low temperatures (10°C) and in difficult weather (rain, wind, low luminosity). Bumblebees work from dawn to dusk in the summer. However, when the temperature exceeds 35°C they stop gathering pollen.
A cultivator's assistant
Our natural heritage is preserved thanks to the pollen-gathering bumblebee. By transporting pollen from flower to flower, thus helping their pollination, they improve the production of agricultural plants and also help wild plants to survive. Their colonies are very simple. They can be used under glass, in plastic tunnels, and in small cages. They were first bred in 1987. They very soon became an efficient pollinator for tomatoes grown in greenhouses. Today they are generally used for tomato growing, and sometimes for growing aubergines and peppers. The species which is bred is called Bombus terrestris. This is a very common species and is big in size. It is black, with two yelllow srripes and one white stripe. It lives in large colonies, which aren't very agressive. It is a bumblebee with a short tongue - it is thereful unsuitable for flowers with long corollae.