Bombus pensylvanicus
American Bumble Bee

Bombus pensylvanicus occurs in the southern and western Minnesota and is absent in the northeast and Arrowhead Region. However, it is generally uncommon to rare throughout much of its range. The conservation status of this species is S3 (vulnerable) because the population has declined significantly across its North American range, contracting in a southerly direction. New queens (gynes) begin emerging from hibernation in mid-May then establish a nest on the ground (rarely belowground) in sites providing long grass such as prairies, oak savannas, and like habitats providing long grass. Gynes may also select sites in fields, roadsides, and similar sunny habitat providing long grass. Workers begin emerging in early June, males in mid-August, and gynes in late August.

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This is a long-tongued bumble bee with a long face and malar space just longer than broad.  Bombus pensylvanicus females closely resemble Bombus auricomus females. Several key differences include yellow hairs on at least the apical half of the first tergite (T1) for B. pensylvanicus versus no yellow or rarely yellow hairs on T1 for B. auricomus; black hairs on the vertex (back of the head or "neck") and face for B. pensylvanicus versus yellow hairs on the vertex and black hairs on the face for B. auricomus; black hairs between the wing bases and on the rear of the thorax for B. pensylvanicus versus a black band between the wing bases and yellow hairs on the rear of the thorax for B. auricomus; and a long spine on the hind basitarsus for B. pensylvanicus versus a short spine on the hind basitarsus for B. auricomus.