Bombus pullatus
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
Bombus pullatus is a tropical, eusocial species of bumblebee native to Mexico and Central America. Unlike many bumblebee species, they live in colonies with multiple queens. The majority of this species occurs in the lowlands of Central America, with approximately 90% of colonies being found in Costa Rica. However they have been found at elevations higher than 3 km above sea level. Colonies have been confirmed in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the south of Mexico.
Bombus pullatus is considered a more basal member of the genus Bombus compared to Bombus pauloensis and Bombus transversalis. Historically, Bombus pullatus has commonly been misidentified as Bombus pauloensis and vice versa in many collections. Molecular analyses (such as DNA profiling) of these specimens are required to accurately identify both species. This issue is why the IUCN has agreed to reject data on this species that is more southern than Panama.
This species is known to be quite aggressive, stinging humans within approximately 6 m of the nest if it is disturbed. Unlike most bumblebees, Bombus pullatus colonies contain multiple queens (a form of polygyny... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tenorio Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 2 | Arenal Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | Los Quetzales National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 4 | Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 5 | Braulio Carrillo National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 6 | Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 7 | La Amistad International Park (Panama) | 🇵🇦 Panama |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-Clothed Bumble Bee sighting in Arenal Volcano National Park on a given day, based on 32 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 27th most-seen of the 302 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
July and August
In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Black-Clothed Bumble Bee in Arenal Volcano National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February, April–May and November, the lowest months.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black-Clothed Bumble Bee sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 7 parks where we can rate Black-Clothed Bumble Bee sightings, Arenal Volcano National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Tenorio Volcano National Park (Costa Rica, about 10%).
Same family: Apidae
The closest relatives of the Black-Clothed Bumble Bee that you can see in Arenal Volcano National Park (family Apidae, Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, and Allies) are Narrow Stingless Bee (about 20%), Red-Tailed Stingless Bee (about 10%) and Belted Orchid Bee (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black-Clothed Bumble Bee is recorded against all the insects logged in Arenal Volcano National Park (32 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
