Bumble bees build smaller, temporary nests, unlike the large, perennial, structured hives associated with honey bees. This difference is rooted in the distinct social organization and annual life cycle of the bumble bee. Their dwelling is a modest structure suited for a single season. The concept of a “hive” implies a long-term, complex structure designed to house tens of thousands of individuals year after year, which is not the case for any species of Bombus.
Defining Nests Versus Hives
A bumble bee nest is characterized by its small size and untidy internal architecture, contrasting sharply with the organized structure of a true hive. The nest is constructed from materials like wax, pollen, and debris, resulting in an irregular collection of cells. Bees create clusters of wax pots for storing small amounts of nectar and pollen, alongside separate wax brood cells for developing young. This arrangement is sufficient for a colony that rarely exceeds 400 individuals at its peak.
The honey bee hive is a standardized, perennial structure built for long-term survival and massive population growth. Honey bees construct vertical wax combs composed of thousands of hexagonal cells. These cells store large quantities of honey—needed for winter survival—and house developing brood. A single hive is designed to hold tens of thousands of individuals, often reaching 50,000 or more, requiring complex and durable architecture.
Where Bumble Bees Build Their Nests
Bumble bees are cavity nesters, seeking out existing, protected voids rather than building structures exposed to the elements. They frequently utilize abandoned underground rodent burrows, where the previous occupant’s bedding provides insulation and a starting point for the nest. These subterranean locations offer protection from predators and help the bees avoid overheating.
Nests can also be found in dense patches of grass (tussocks) or within compost piles, which provide excellent natural insulation. Occasionally, a queen selects a sheltered location in a man-made structure, such as under a shed, in a birdhouse, or in a wall crevice. The queen requires a dry, dark, and sheltered space to begin founding her colony alone.
The Seasonal Life of a Bumble Bee Colony
The temporary nature of the dwelling is directly linked to the bumble bee’s annual life cycle. The cycle begins in early spring when a single, newly mated queen emerges from solitary underground hibernation. She seeks a suitable nesting site and provisions the first brood of eggs, which she must forage for, incubate, and protect entirely on her own. This initial stage is the most vulnerable point in the colony’s development.
After the first workers emerge, typically in early summer, they take over the duties of foraging and nest maintenance, allowing the queen to remain inside and focus solely on egg-laying. The colony grows throughout the summer but remains relatively small, usually peaking with a few hundred individuals. This limited population size is directly correlated with the small, single-season nest structure.
In late summer, the queen switches from producing female workers to producing males and new queens (gynes). These reproductive individuals leave the nest to mate, ensuring the next generation. As autumn approaches, the original queen, the workers, and the males all die, ending the colony and its temporary nest. Only the newly mated gynes survive, burrowing into the soil or leaf litter to hibernate until the following spring.