Bombus Occidentalis (Paperback)

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Bombus occidentalis is commonly known as the Western Bumble Bee. Bombus occidentalis is just one of the approximately thirty bumble bee species currently present in the western United States and western Canada. Bumble bees are considered to be true social insects as they have communal nest sites and share division of labor. In the taxonomic hierarchy, all bumble bees belong to the genus Bombus within the family Apidae. Apidae also includes honey, carpenter, cuckoo, digger, stingless, and orchid bees. Apidae are specialists for feeding on flowers and gathering nectar and pollen. Bumble bees belong to the order Hymenoptera (Greek origin hymen = membrane + ptera = wings). Hymenoptera are the only other order, besides Isoptera (termites), to have evolved complex social systems with division of labor. Aculeate Hymeoptera (certain wasps, bees, and ants) are the only insects that can sting. Unlike honey bees, bumble bees can sting repeatedly.