Photo by Public domain (iNaturalist) on iNaturalist · CC0 (public domain) · specimen identified as Bombus ternarius
PollinatorActive now (September)
Bumble bees
Bombus spp.
- When
- Mar–Oct — March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Earlier in the south, later in the north.
- Where to look
- Tomatoes, blueberries, squash, and any deep flower; they nest in old rodent holes and grass tussocks.
- How to know it
- Big, round and very furry, in black with yellow, orange or white bands.
- What it does for you
- The best pollinator you have. They buzz-pollinate — vibrating the flower to shake pollen loose — which is the only way tomatoes and blueberries set well.
- Caution
- Leave rough grass and a corner of bare ground; that is where they nest.
Found in these regions
- Boreal North & Taiga
- Boreal Forest & Shield
- Acadian Forest & Atlantic Coast
- Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Lowlands
- Northeast Atlantic Coast & Piedmont
- Appalachian Highlands
- Central Hardwoods & Interior Plateaus
- Southeastern Piedmont & Coastal Plain
- Gulf Coast & Mississippi Lowlands
- Florida Peninsula
- Prairies & Great Plains
- Western Mountains & Interior Plateaus
- Pacific Maritime
- Mediterranean California
- Deserts & Dry Basins
- Hawaiʻi & the Tropics
Is it active near you?
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Also active in September
PollinatorMay–OctMonarch butterfly
Danaus plexippus
Orange with heavy black veins and a white-spotted black border. The caterpillar is banded yellow, white and black.
What it does in the garden →Photo: Christine Young · CC BY 4.0
PollinatorMay–SepRuby-throated hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Tiny, iridescent green above; the male has a black-looking throat that flares ruby in the right light.
What it does in the garden →
BeneficialJul–OctPraying mantis
Mantidae
Long green or brown body, triangular head that swivels, and folded raptorial front legs.
What it does in the garden →