bumblebee (humble bee) Robust, hairy, black bee with broad yellow or orange stripes. The genus Bombus lives in organized groups in ground or tree nests, where the queen lays her first eggs after the winter hibernation. These become worker bees. Later, the queen lays eggs to produce drones (males) and new queens which develop before the colony dies. The cycle is then repeated. The genus Psithyrus, or cuckoo bee, lays its eggs in the nests of Bombus, which rear them. Length: up to 2.5cm (1in). Order Hymenoptera; family Apidae.

bum·ble·bee / ˈbəmbəlˌbē/ • n. a large hairy bee (genus Bombus, family Apidae) with a loud hum, living in small colonies in holes underground.