Two characteristics that identify the California bumble bee (Bombus californicus):
- Hair. Like all bumble bees, this California native is VERY hairy.
- Color. Black face (sometimes called the black-faced bumble bee), yellow fuzz at the front of the thorax that makes it look as though it is wearing a yellow scarf, and a yellow stripe toward the bottom of the abdomen.
If you’re interested in native bees such as the California bumble bee, here are two wonderful resources:
Native Bee Guide from the Oregon Department of Agriculture
