Bombus impatiens aka Bumble Bees

These are live insects and MUST be shipped FedEx 2nd day or overnight. NO USPS OR GROUND SHIPPING.

RELEASE RATES: Note - These rates are approximate numbers.

DESCRIPTION:
Bumble bees are easily recognized, being large (3/4 inch long) with black and yellow or orangish hair patterns on their abdomens. Queens and workers have pollen baskets on their hind legs. Bumble bees can be distinguished from carpenter bees because of the presence of orangeish or yellow hair patterns on the upper surface of the abdomen on the honey bee. Some members of bumble bees (Subfamily Bombinae) in the genus, Psithyrus, are parasites of bumble bees, feeding on larvae. 

LIFECYCLE:
New queens emerge during the late summer or early autumn. After mating and feeding to store fat reserves on their bodies for the winter, they will then hibernate. During early spring the following year, the new queens emerge to establish new colonies of their own. However, towards the end of summer or early autumn, again, new queens emerge from the colony she has founded. The rest of the colony, however, including the workers and the original queen, will not survive. All in all then, providing a queen is successful and is not killed by disease, pesticide or predators, she may live for about a year - part of this time being spent in hibernation. 

Accounts of how long bumblebees live, do vary between species and studies.For example, Bombus terricola workers were observed to be 13.2 days on average – around 2 weeks. But in other studies, workers were observed to live for up to 41.3 days – about 6 weeks. It is believed that workers engaged in nest duties live longer than bumblebee workers whose main duty is foraging. These bumblebees are of course more prone to predator attack, and are also exposed to varying weather conditions. It is not unusual to find a bedraggled looking bumblebee needing to rest and revive itself having been caught in a shower. 

RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS: Place the hives preferably evenly distributed along the south-side of the main path in the greenhouse in order to have the maximum shade from the crop in summer. The best position is on a horizontal platform (avoid inclination else sugar solution may leak). Before opening the flight hole, allow the colonies to calm down minimum half hour after placing on final position. Whenever possible, open flight hole when vents are closed to prevent loss of workers. 

Natupol performs best at ambient temperatures of 10-30°C/50-86°F.It may be necessary to provide extra shade (e.g. with styrofoam). The sugar solution that is provided with the hive is generally sufficient for the entire life of the colony. Secure the hive so that ants cannot enter it, f.e with a barrier of grease or insect glue. Also avoid contact between plants and hive, since this can also be a way for ants to reach the hive. If pollination is required during a longer period, regularly place new hives in the greenhouse.