5 Things You May Not Know About Illinois’ New Official State Bee

Move over Northern Cardinal. Step aside (and not into oncoming traffic), White-Tailed Deer. Make room, Drummer Silty Clay Loam

Illinois officially has a new state symbol, and this one comes with fuzzy stripes, tiny wings, and a personality that makes it look like it should have its own Cartoon Network show.

Meet the black-and-gold bumblebee, Illinois’ new official state bee.

And honestly, it’s a perfect fit. The bumblebee may be one of nature’s strangest looking creations, a flying ball of fluff that seems like it was assembled from leftover pieces of other insects. It’s round, it’s clumsy, and yet somehow it manages to be one of the hardest-working creatures in your yard.

a close up of a bee on a yellow flower

Let's Get Into Some Of The Things You May Not Know About These Little Guys

Bumblebees are basically nature’s morning commuters: Unlike many insects that wait for warm afternoons, bumblebees can get moving earlier because they can warm up their flight muscles by vibrating them. In other words, they have their own built-in tiny furnace.

They are excellent “buzz pollinators” Some flowers are difficult to open, but bumblebees can grab onto them and vibrate their muscles, shaking loose pollen that other insects might miss. They are basically the gardeners who show up with power tools.

That cartoon body shape is actually a survival advantage. Their fuzzy coats help keep them warm, allowing them to work in cooler weather when many other bees are taking the day off.

And despite their loud buzzing, bumblebees are generally the gentle giants of the insect world. They are much more interested in finding flowers than finding trouble.

a purple flower with a bee on it

The Bumblebee Joins Illinois' Already Semi-Unusual List Of Official Things

We have popcorn as our official state snack, pumpkin pie as our official state pie, cycling as our official state exercise, and the Tully monster as our official state fossil.

We also have the Giant Puffball as Illinois' official state fungus. We have Penicillium Rubens as our official state microbe, and we have drummer silty clay loam as our official state soil.

Now we can add the bumblebee, a little creature that represents Illinois perfectly. It may not be the fastest, sleekest, or most graceful flyer in the sky.

But it shows up. It works hard. Sounds pretty Illinois to me.