How to Find a Queen Bumblebee

Locate a worker or queen bee. In early spring, queen bumblebees come out of hibernation in search of new homes. If you look near clover, thistles, other flowers or areas with a steady supply of water, you are likely to find a queen bee Queen bees are typically much larger than worker bees, approximately the size of a quarter. If you are looking later in spring or in the summer, you will most likely find a worker bee. Again, look around brightly colored flowers to locate a worker.

Follow the bee back to the nest. Once you have located a bee, you will need to try to follow it back to its nest. Bumblebees are slower fliers than other types of bees, so the job will be a bit easier. The bee will likely stop at several flowers before heading back to the nest, so chart the flowers as you go. This will give you a path or perimeter to work with if you lose track of your bee.

Locate the nest. Bumblebee nests are typically made in abandoned rodent holes, tussocky grasses and even in small gaps and cracks in the woodwork of infrequently used buildings.

Locate the queen. If the queen bee is inside an existing nest, do not attempt to locate her without the assistance of a beekeeper. These nests can be expansive, and rousing the bees is extremely dangerous because they can become angry, even ones as docile as bumble bees.