What is the difference between honeybees and bumblebees?

Body shape is different: a honey bee's body is similar to that of a wasp, while the bumble bee has a round body. The bumble bee is also known for it's hairy or fuzzy appearance. Honey bees, although having a fine hairs appear much smoother. Bumble bees are also usually black and yellow in colour, honey bees more shades of brown.

Bumble bees are similar to honey bees in that a hive will consist of a queen, female worker bees, and male drones, who are responsible for mating with the queen. They do produce honey, but in very small amounts, so they are not used for commercial honey production. Another similarity is that only the females possess stingers.

Bumble bees tend to live in fairly small nests, which are usually in the ground. For this reason, they do not swarm like honey bees.

Bumble bees can thrive in colder climates than most honey bees because they can regulate their body temperature and they have furry bodies.

With many bumble bee varieties, only the queen will survive over the winter, and she hibernates in her nest. Honey bees do not hibernate, and although the drones are evicted from the hive at the end of summer and die, the queen and workers over-winter in the hive, taking the opportunity to forage whenever the air temperature is high enough.