Suckley Cuckoo Bumble Bee

Bombus suckleyi is a species of bumblebee known commonly as Suckley's cuckoo bumblebee, named after biologist George Suckley. Suckley's bumble bee is a generalist pollinator and represents a rare group of obligate, parasitic bumble bees. Suckley's bumble bee is a social-parasite because it invades the nests of the host bumble bees, including the western bumble bee, and relies on host species workers to provision its larvae.

It is native to northwestern North America, including Alaska and parts of western and central Canada and the western United States.

Bombus suckleyi inhabits open grasslands, meadows, and prairie edges in western North America, particularly favoring areas with abundant wildflowers including lupines, clovers, and native composites. The species requires both foraging habitat with diverse flowering plants and suitable nesting sites in underground cavities or abandoned rodent burrows.