Can Bumblebees Bite?
Yes, bumblebees can bite people, but it’s not common and usually not harmful. Bumblebees have strong mandibles (jaws) that they primarily use to chew through plant material, pollen, or other objects. They will occasionally bite a human if they feel threatened, are handled, or are defending their nest. Unlike their sting, a bumblebee bite generally doesn’t inject venom—it’s more like a pinch and may cause minor redness, swelling, or irritation.
Do Bumblebees Bite?
Bumblebees are generally non-aggressive, but there are a few situations where they may bite. Their bites are defensive, not predatory—they don’t actively seek out humans to bite:
Handling or Capturing Bumblebees: If a bumblebee is picked up, held, or restrained (for example, in research or by a curious child), it may bite with its mandibles. This is often a “warning” before it might sting.
Defending the Nest: Bumblebee colonies are defensive of their hive, especially queen bumblebees and workers near the nest. If someone disturbs a nest (by touching the entrance, knocking over a nest in the ground, or getting too close), workers may bite.
Trapped Bumblebees: Bumblebees that get caught in clothing, hair, or under a lid may bite in self-defense.
Cold or Exhausted Bees: Bumblebees that are cold or have limited mobility can sometimes bite if provoked, since they can’t escape quickly.
Bumblebee bites are rare, brief, and usually harmless, unlike stings, which are more serious because they inject venom. The bite is typically just a small pinch from the mandibles.
Bumblebee Bites
Bumblebee bites are relatively mild and look different from stings. Here’s what to expect:
Appearance: Usually a small, reddish mark where the mandibles pinched the skin. Sometimes a tiny raised bump or slight swelling, similar to a mild pinch or scratch. No puncture wound from venom (unlike a sting).
Symptoms: Minor pain or discomfort at the bite site, usually short-lived. Slight itching or irritation is possible but uncommon. The area typically returns to normal within a few hours to a day.
Comparison to a sting: Bumblebee stings are more painful, often leaving a puncture, swelling, and sometimes a small white spot where the stinger entered. Bites are purely mechanical pinches—no venom is injected.
A bumblebee bite is a tiny red pinch mark that may swell slightly but is generally harmless.