A
bumblebee, also written
bumble bee, is a member of the
bee genus Bombus, in the family
Apidae. The
brood parasitic or cuckoo bumblebees have sometimes been classified as a subgenus or genus,
Psithyrus, but are now usually treated as members of
Bombus. This genus is the only
extant group in the tribe
Bombini, though a few extinct related genera (e.g.,
Calyptapis) are known from
fossils. Over 250 species are known, found primarily in higher latitudes or at higher altitude in the
Northern Hemisphere, although they also occur in
South America; however, a few lowland tropical species are known. European bumblebees have been introduced to
New Zealand and
Tasmania.
