Where to buy bumblebees
What you will learn here
- Where and how can I get bumblebees
- It is better to settle bumblebees from nature around you in a hive
- By settling bumblebees from nature, you will learn much more about them
- Bumblebees can also be bought, but it may not always be an honest sale.
Last updated date: 08/02/2025
- You don't need to keep bumblebees. – offer bumblebees a varied garden full of nectar-rich plants
- Wild bumblebees are preferred: settle the queen mother from your vicinity in the hive, it is a species that thrives on you
- Experience the full life cycle: If you establish a queen bee in a wasp nest, you will have bees for several months.
- Beginners, don't despair if you don't succeed right at the start of the season: In Central Europe, bumblebee queens can be settled according to the weather and location (altitude) from March to early May, and subsequently, a second generation of queens from some species is also possible.
- Second generation of bumblebees It is also possible to settle bumblebee queens from the second generation from May to June.
- Experienced breeders, help the rarer species: Don't rush and don't settle the early species. These are abundant and if you want to help bumblebees by breeding them, wait for the later and rarer ones.
- A bumblebee nest can be bought: If you are a beginner and for a serious reason you dare not/cannot establish a queen from nature (e.g. reduced mobility etc.), order a nest from an authorised and verified supplier of bumblebees from the Czech Republic (ask for proof of origin of the bumblebees).
- Bumblebee Rapid Response as a way to acquire bumblebees: If you fail to establish the queen bee, don't despair. Our Bumblebee Rapid Response team can help you = you can evacuate and save the nest yourself, which would otherwise be destined for destruction.
- Stop to hybrid bumblebees: Never buy hybrid bumblebees intended for pollination services for your garden; it is illegal and therefore bad for nature
Contents
The bumblebee and I
Photo: A. Ungerová (2018)
Introduction
Question Where can I get them?„
Those who have decided to keep bumblebees and are serious about it are diligently working – studying and preparing everything necessary.
You can acquire a fright relatively easily, see our Guide to choosing saddle, or our instructions on modifying and making beehives. Most of the time, however, beginners are most concerned with how to obtain bumblebees.
We will provide you with instructions, but first, we will give you a basic overview, after which you will decide for yourself which path to take.
You might be interested in how how long the bumblebees will stay with you. This, of course, depends on the conditions and the state of the queen mother, but Depending on how it was acquired, it can vary by a month or more. We will describe it in the next text..
Bumblebees PLUS has these for you fundamental recommendations, How to get a bumblebee nest for your bumblebee nest:
- Consider it, but first please, whether you really want to become a bumblebee breeder, and whether that work, nerves, and time are truly worth it for you:
https://www.cmelaciplus.cz/nezbytna-prvni-uvaha/ - You don't necessarily have to keep bumblebees in hives, you can prepare a varied food offering for them according to the instructions on our website and Facebook . Choose plants from our catalogue: https://www.cmelaciplus.cz/seznam-rostlin-vhodnych-pro-podporu-cmelaku/
- If you really want to get bumblebees, Please study our tutorials:
https://www.cmelaciplus.cz/rad-bych-zacal-chovat-cmelaky/ - Always give priority of the queen mother's settlement from nature. Don't despair about not succeeding at the start of the season. Bumblebee mothers can be established in Central Europe. according to the weather and location (altitude) from March to early May and subsequently also a second generation of queens of some species.
Can also settle second-generation bumblebee queens From May to June. - If you are Beginners and if for some serious reason you don't dare/You cannot to nest a mother from nature (e.g. reduced mobility, etc.), Order a nest from an authorised and verified dealer with bumblebees from the Czech Republic (request bumblebee origin documents)
- If you can't get the queen mother settled, don't despair. Our Bumblebee Rapid Response Unit you can do it yourselves evacuate and save the nest, which would otherwise be doomed.
- Don't buy hybrid bumblebees intended for pollination service.
In the following text, we will clarify this information and gradually guide you to specific chapters on our website. However, try to go through everything so you don't miss anything. Bumblebee farming is not rocket science, but it depends on the details.
Please refer to the chapters listed in the section I would like to keep bumblebees.
Types of bumblebees Photos
The settlement of the queen mother from nature
In short:
- It's the cheapest way to get bumblebees.
- Such a nest with you will last the longest
- You will experience all the stages of nest development
- Introducing a bumblebee queen from nature into your vicinity and successfully rearing her is a way of helping nature.
- If you are an advanced breeder, favour other species than the common buff-tailed bumblebee (B. terrestris).
In detail:
We recommend this solution as best for all – for nature and for you.
Give preference to the queen mother my kind of your nature. She will do well with you precisely because she comes from your surroundings and It has all the conditions necessary for its life.. You also have a chance to get something to nest in your place A type of bumblebee that is not common, or is even rare.
It is much better than placing a purchased bumblebee nest from breeding. In such a case, it would most likely be common buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris).
If a mother of a local bumblebee species sets up home with you, you can help it reproduce. Sexual partners from her nest find it easier they won't find partners of their kind in the vicinity to establish the next generation. You will thus non-violently support the natural order of things in nature. Should it go You will help to spread a less common species.
Relatively little is known about the fact that some bumblebee species also establish, under favourable conditions, second generation of nests in the same season. These could be, for example, early species such as the meadow bee (Bombus pratorum). Their queens nest as early as March and, thanks to rapid development, soon raise new queens. Some of them They do not hibernate, but look for a place to establish their nest.. Similarly, this can happen with some species of bumblebees that nest later, such as the common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum). With a bit of luck, a beekeeper might find a queen on a scouting flight at the start of summer and settle her in a hive. So, there's no need to get discouraged if you don't succeed in establishing a colony in the spring.
It is also important time factor, so How long will you enjoy the occupied nest.
If you settle a queen bee this way from nature, you will have the chance to observe all stages of the nest's development bumblebees from the solitary phase, to the extinction of nests, that means at least 3 – 5 months depending on type and conditions.
Some species of bumblebees, such as the hardy common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum), can survive in a hive. until the first frosts, so feel free 6 – 8 months.
Perhaps it seems like a lot of work and it is You have to admit the outcome isn't always certain. And of course, for a beginner it's a bit of a challenge, but Even an experienced breeder may not always succeed.
We can, however, confirm that Many absolute beginners managed it in the first season., and today they are experienced beekeepers – bumblebee keepers.
You don't need to worry about failing as a beginner.. For establishing bumblebee queens from nature, we provide you with instructions and best practices on our website to achieve this. Just like every year, we will also provide you with advice and photo tutorials. If you stick to the proven advice, the chances are high. On Facebook Bumblebees PLUS in the associated part Bumblebees PLUS – Discussion Forum You can also discuss with other breeders who will support you.
You can find the procedure for installing a queen bee into a hive on our website. HERE. It is necessary to go through all the preparatory steps in advance.
What we do not recommend
- Notry to in your corner fromthe bumblebee queen you brought from afar, a species for which you do not have the correct living conditions. Even if it settles in and the breeding seems successful – it simply won't have a continuation. What good will new young queens be if they remain alone? Because this species of bumblebee is not found in your area, and there are no partners for reproduction.
- From some location Will you take the bumblebee mother, who is endangered in the Czech Republic, This will further weaken its population. Furthermore, a long journey for the mother also reduces her chances of nesting. Furthermore, it is by law prohibited manipulation of a protected creature
- If you do not want to try to settle the mother of nature and it is for you the main argument is lack of time, we recommend reconsider if you really want to keep bumblebees and why. Bee farming truly requires time and care. The time dedicated to establishing the queen is only a small part of it.
Purchasing natural bumblebees from an authorised dealer
In short:
- We only recommend this solution in exceptional cases, for example for complete beginners, or for breeders with disabilities.
- More sellers are appearing, but please ask for proof of origin and proof of origin from nature in the Czech Republic.
- Buying a nest of common bumblebees (B. terrestris) is not helping nature where other types of bumblebees are found.
- If you want to do something for nature, establish a queen bee from nature.
In detail:
We recommend this solution for beginners, or if you're from for some really serious reason don't dare, or cannot nest their mother from nature. The reason could be, for example, reduced mobility, etc.
As we wrote above, the reason for the purchase should not be Lack of time. Bee care requires time, And if you don't have it, please don't proceed – thank you.
If you purchase a nest from an authorised dealer, you will get usually nests in the UK of the common bumblebee (Bombus terrestris). It will be a nest with the first generation of approximately 10-30 workers, or stronger, depending on the agreement with the supplier, the size of the nest ordered, and the collection time.
These beautiful bumblebees are abundant in nature. Unfortunately, they are often sold. The reason for this is that this kind of are most easily bred in laboratory conditions. They are not demanding in terms of food sources, They also consume frozen pollen and thrive in breeding boxes. As a result, sales of them (including those from wild queens) dale rozšiřuje počty již tak hojného druhu, na úkor ostatních druhů.
Paradoxically, the same bumblebees don't settle easily, they are fussy and cause concern for breeders. Another paradox – very often they occupy already occupied hives themselves, and this sometimes causes concern for breeders. Queens of this type can kill a settled queen in a hive and take up residence there; they are large and dominant.
Note on measures against such a situation are discussed in section on the placement of the hive a o Use of the hive entrance reducer.
If you obtain a bumblebee nest in this way, you won’t get the chance to observe the solitary phase of the nest (The mother is alone in the nest).
Depending on how strong the nest is and when you order it (1-2 generations of workers) and on the conditions, you will have a nest for 1.5 – 4 months.
It's less work, but it means ordering them in time and, above all, being among the lucky group who manage to get some of the nests that are for sale.
We would like to emphasise, however, that if you do want to buy bumblebees, they should be Bumblebees found in the wild in the Czech Republic. The shop assistant will give you their must provide proof of origin with a verified document and a sales permit.
You may be offered bumblebees intended for pollination services. If you release them into the wild and do not have an exemption from Act No. 114/1992 Coll., the Act of the Czech National Council on Nature and Landscape Protection, you may be subject to penalties.
What about the sale of bumblebees in the Czech Republic
We have already written about this above, we are returning to the topic here.
In short:
- Choose Czech bumblebee producers whose origin in the Czech Republic is verified
- Prefers Czech breeders with licences to breed
- Prefer breeders who supply you with bumblebees other than the buff-tailed bumblebee (B. terrestris)
In detail:
Interest in bumblebees logically prompts a number of people to the rearing of bumblebees for sale. Keeping and breeding bumblebees from the wild is not so easy, and it is a business where mistakes don't pay off. Such a venture can easily end in failure. For example, one could name an outbreak of a viral infection in the livestock, or unmanageable parasite (Mites, parasitic wasps, the miniature but deadly wasp Melittobia acasta).
In laboratory breeding, the common bumblebee species paradoxically thrives, and it is Buff-tailed bumblebee. Some other kinds can also be kept, but success and therefore the efficiency of breeding is lower, This applies for example to the large earth bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), or the tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum). Therefore, if you buy a bumblebee nest on the market in the Czech Republic, it will most likely be the buff-tailed bumblebee.
The other problem is that at the moment There are no more legal sellers. bumblebee nests from our countryside, and unfortunately also Legislation, processes, and rules upon the issue of a permit, they are not uniform. The situation is also improving thanks to the Ministry of the Environment's methodology.
From experience, it is clear to us that some of you will want to buy bumblebees because you want to make it easier to get started, or their circumstances will not allow them to establish a bumblebee queen from nature.
If you are buying bumblebees, find out who is selling them. You will quickly be able to tell if it is a straightforward business or a passionate breeder.
For us, it is The fundamental ethics of their breeding and sale. You'll recognise this, for instance, from their behaviour during sales and the things they themselves will warn you about during a purchase. For example, they might refuse to move a purchased colony to an unsuitable hive because they know the colony would die there. You can read about unsuitable hives HERE. Likewise, they will offer you advice and guidance on breeding, and will offer support. If they give you one side of A4 instructions and nothing more, consider the purchase carefully.
Equally important is that the seller breeds and sells bumblebees from the Czech Republic, whose The population is regularly supplemented by individuals from the wild.. So it's not about laboratory breeding of cultivated bumblebees. All documents and permits will be presented to you upon request.
A small glimpse into a commercial bumblebee breeding laboratory. It's daily work and care – working under red light, feeding, cleaning, etc., Forget the romance and for holidays. Breeding errors and insufficient hygiene or protection of the farm can wipe out a year's work in a few days. Don't try to do it on your own, it's a drudgery with an uncertain outcome and many risks.
Bee husbandry in the laboratory
Czech Television Source
Bumblebee sellers from the Czech Republic
Gradually Do other dealers sell bumblebees? and they communicate with us. We will list them on our website if they meet all legislative and ethical requirements. and especially if will succeed in breeding.
This means they will prove that their bumblebee production is sustainable and not a one-off success in the form of a single generation of nests.
If it appears sellers of other species' nests of bumblebees than the common bumblebee, we will be happy to inform you about it. Breeding rare species of bumblebees in larger numbers is very complex, but it will be a support for nature.
On the Čmeláci PLUS group's pages, you will not find support for bumblebee breeding in the laboratory. Our goal is to support bumblebees in nature. When breeding bumblebees, we breed bumblebees from nature with free flight and natural reproduction.
Our request and warning:
- Do not support any illegal breeding of bumblebees for sale – not only is it unlawful, but it can also be harmful to nature.
- If you decide to purchase a bumblebee nest, ask the seller for their breeding and sales permits.
- Before purchasing, familiarise yourself with the conditions under which and where the nest can be placed.
- Nests of purchased bumblebees cannot be placed outside the areas for which the seller has a permit – otherwise, you risk potential criminal prosecution yourself.
- If you want to buy bumblebees, Please prefer other species than the common buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris).. However, if you are just starting out, this type can also be used
- If possible, avoid buying bumblebees and help nature by accommodating bumblebees from your local environment – it's possible!
Bumblebee Rapid Response Unit – save bumblebees and give them a home
In short:
- If you fail to secure a scare in the spring, you still have a chance.
- During the season, you can obtain a nest by way of rescue.
- Beginners can manage it too
In detail:
This is another way to Acquire a bumblebee nest and simultaneously save a bumblebee nest.
It often happens that the breeder prepares a fright, but He won't manage to settle bumblebees in it.. It can also happen that for some reason the bumblebees will be lost prematurely. On the other hand, it often happens that someone contacts us because a bumblebee nest is „in their way.“.
This could be, for example, a nest under a patio where his young children play, a nest under the roof or near a window, someone in the family/neighbour has a severe allergy to stings, etc. Likewise, it could be a nest at risk, for example, found during house renovation, compost removal, a nest dug up by a dog...
If there's no compulsion, we can as a group Bumblebees PLUS free and fast organise help = to find someone who has an empty hive, time, willingness, and can evacuate such a nest, transport it to their own safe place. The number of rescuers and rescued nests is constantly increasing. Furthermore, since 2020, the Fire and Rescue Service has also been cooperating with us, so there will be more information about nests.
We've got this tried and tested methods and everyone, Who is watching us, can become a saviour and thus secure a nest that would otherwise be doomed to oblivion.
If you are interested in becoming a bumblebee rescuer and a member of the Bumblebee Rapid Response Team, or if you want to see rescue stories, you will find everything HERE
Bumblebee Rapid Response – Vrbovec
Bumblebees intended for pollination services do not belong in the garden.
In short:
- Bumblebees that are not native to the wild can be purchased on the Czech market – hybrid bumblebees intended for pollination services in enclosed spaces or under otherwise modified operating conditions.„
- Sellers should not sell them to you unless you have an exemption from Act No. 114/1992 Coll. on Nature and Landscape Protection, as amended, specifically § 56 Exemptions from prohibitions concerning protected trees and specially protected species of plants and animals.
- If you are not in possession of the above exemption, you risk possible penalties.
In detail:
On the market in the Czech Republic, but as well as abroad, are sold Bumblebees are used for so-called pollination services after work, i.e. for work in greenhouses and enclosed spaces.
These bumblebees, or rather their nests, are bought farmers, so that they can grow vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries, etc.) for example, during the winter period. Farmers must adhere to strict rules, so that these bumblebees do not escape into the wild, as they do not belong there – would harm wild bee species. These are large, strong nests of hybrid bumblebees, which represent significant competition natural bee species. These hybrids share common roots with natural bee species, but they are bred in captivity. These are not renewed from nature precisely because, and,so that it would retain the specific characteristics for which it was bred.
It's essentially about Pollination machines, and that's why they are sold not as bumblebees but as a product.
This area is on its own problematic The terms of use for bumblebees for pollination services are becoming stricter. Take, for example, Position of the Czech Society of Entomology, an authority that takes a very negative view of the sale of bumblebees.
Therefore, it should not happen, that you would be allowed to buy such bumblebees without a permit and let them fly freely in your garden. The sale of these bumblebees is legal only authorised dealersand furthermore, only for meeting strict conditions. The buyer must ensure that these bumblebees will move only in an enclosed space greenhouse and they will prevented from spreading into the wild. This means that the moment the nest starts producing queens, they must be prevented from doing so and destroy the nest with the bumblebees. If you acquire them and release them into the wild, in your attempt to help nature, you could be harming and endangering native bumblebee species.
You can easily get yourself into trouble if you get such bumblebees and to incur criminal liability.
On our Čmeláci PLUS Facebook pages we were describing a case where a seller exploited interest in bumblebees, which was serving exactly such bumblebees to unsuspecting customers. You will find the text supplemented with a number of documents HERE.
There is currently an inspection by the Czech Environmental Inspectorate (ČIZP) at this seller.
If you do indeed get such a nest, you will receive a developed nest full of workers. This is how they are produced for pollinating services, so that they can immediately carry out their task. This is therefore a nest at its peak and It lasts 1-2 months. A vendor's price for such a nest is around CZK 2,200.
We assume that none of you will be found to take this path, and knowingly harmed nature.
Bumblebees for pollination services in greenhouses
Nest in a paper wrapper
Bee producer website photo
Bumblebees for pollination services in greenhouses
Nest in a plastic case removed from paper packaging
Bee photo web seller Czech Republic
Conclusion
There are several ways to populate a bait trap with bumblebees. Please try to Give preference to nature and the bumblebees in your vicinity over shopping.
Once you gain experience, you will be able to Choose the bumblebee species you want to establish and helping them. They can be less common types of bumblebees, It is not necessary to keep only the buff-tailed bumblebee.
Beekeeping in gardens is becoming increasingly important. What starts as a hobby and enthusiasm can gradually become a way to give back to nature at least some of what we take from it and owe it.
We must not allow together, ...so that nature conservation becomes a pursuit of performance, money and business.
It's on all of us, So let's go together a journey of humility and support for bumblebees and nature.
The bumblebee and I
Photo: A. Ungerová (2018)