Bumblebee Habitat

Hemisphere

• Bumblebees are most commonly found in the Northern Hemisphere, although there are large populations in New Zealand and Tasmania. In the Northern Hemisphere they are mainly found above the Tropic of Capricorn where the temperature range is not too high or variable. The polar bumblebee, or Bombus Polaris, is the species found the furthest North on Ellesmere Island off the Northern Canadian coast.

Altitude

• Along with a preference for the Northern Hemisphere, bumblebees also tend to populate areas of higher altitude. They are not commonly found in coastal regions and prefer areas a good distance above sea level. The preferred distance above sea level has to do a lot with location. The warmer the general temperature at sea level at certain latitude -- the higher they prefer to be. There are also some species that populate warmer, tropical climates. The preferred temperature range is between 10 and 25 degrees Celsius. This is mainly because they require a body temperature of 30 degrees to be able to fly.

Food Sources

• As with all animals, a key habitat decision for bumblebees is an available food source. Pollen producing plants and crops are the preferred vegetation for all bees. This means larger populations of bumblebees can be found in woodland, park and agricultural areas. They will also inhabit more urban areas, as long as there are gardens, window boxes or parks where flowers can be found.

Nest

• Unlike other bees, bumblebees tend to live in burrows. These can be natural holes in the ground, or dens dug by other animals, like foxes. The colony itself is smaller than that of other bee species. A suitable nest is not very difficult to find in suitable areas -- where food is available -- due to the presence of other animals. Thick grass is also preferred, as it gives the nest some protection.