Bombus rufocinctus is a short-tongued bumble bee species that is most commonly observed in the northern two-thirds of Minnesota, and is generally absent from the prairie biome in the southeast. New queens (gynes) typically establish a nest on the ground in woodlands, gardens, and edge habitats, and less often belowground in abandoned rodent burrows. Gynes emerge from hibernation approximately in mid-May, workers in early June, and males in mid- or late July. 

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Bombus rufocinctus has two dominant color patterns in all castes as well additional variations to those two dominant patterns. The first color pattern has yellow hairs on the first tergite (T1), bright orange hairs on the second through fourth tergites (T2-T4) in females, and second through fifth (T2-T5) in males. The second color pattern  also has yellow hairs on T1, some yellow hairs in the central part of T2 (females) and complete yellow hairs on T2 in males. Additional yellow hairs on T4 and T5 (females) is another variation of this color pattern. Males can have yellow hairs on all or most of the tergites in some individuals. Females have black hairs on the face, males yellow hairs. All castes have yellow hairs on the vertex and a broad black band between the wing bases. The wings are medium to dark brown.