Options for where to buy bumblebees
What you will learn here
- Where and how can you get bumblebees?
- Why it is better to place bumblebees from nature in your hive
- By settling bumblebees from the wild, you will learn much more about them
- Bumblebees can be bought, but it may not always be a fair sale
Last updated: 8/2/2025
In a nutshell
- You don't have to keep bumblebees - offer them a colorful garden full of honey plants
- Bumblebees from nature have priority: place a queen mother from your area in the hive, it is the species that thrives on you
- Experience the entire life cycle: if you house a queen bee in your hive, you will have bumblebees for several months
- Beginners, don't despair if you don't succeed right at the beginning of the season: depending on the weather and location (altitude), bumblebee queens can be settled in Central Europe from March to early May, and then the second generation of queens of some species can be settled.
- Second generation of bumblebees: second generation bumblebee mothers can also be settled from May to June.
- Experienced breeders, help the rarer species: do not rush and do not settle the early species. They are abundant and if you want to help the bumblebees by breeding, wait for the later and rarer ones
- A bumblebee nest can be purchased: if you are a beginner and if for some serious reason you do not dare/cannot nest a queen from nature (e.g. reduced mobility, etc.), order a nest from an authorized and verified bumblebee seller from the Czech Republic (ask for documents on the origin of the bumblebees)
- Bumblebee Rapid Rota as a way to acquire bumblebees: If you fail to settle the queen mother, don't despair. Our Bumblebee Rapid Rota can help you = you can evacuate and save a nest that would otherwise be destined for extinction yourself
- Stop hybrid bumblebees: never buy hybrid bumblebees for your garden intended for pollination service, it is illegal and therefore harmful to nature
English Abstract
- You don't have to keep bumblebees – offer the bumblebees a colorful garden full of honey-bearing plants
- Bumblebees from nature have a preference: s ettle a queen queen from your neighborhood in the hive, it's the kind you thrive on
- Experience the whole life cycle: if you house a queen queen in your hive, you will have bumblebees for months
- Beginners, don't despair that you won't succeed right at the beginning of the season: queen bumblebees can be established in Central Europe from March to early May, depending on the weather and the location (altitude), and then the second generation of queens of some species.
- Second generation of bumblebees: second generation bumblebee queens can also be established from May to June.
- Experienced bumblebee keepers help the rarer species: do not rush and settle early species. These are abundant and if you want to help bumblebees by breeding, wait for the later and rarer ones
- Bumblebee nests can be bought : if you are a beginner and if for some serious reason you dare not/cannot nest a queen from the wild (eg reduced mobility etc.), order a nest from an authorized and verified bumblebee dealer from the Czech Republic (ask for proof of origin of the bumblebees)
- Bumblebees Quick Squad (Bumblebee Rescue Service) as a way to acquire bumblebees: if you can't get the queen queen settled, don't despair. Our Bumblebee Quick Company can help you = you can evacuate and save a nest that would otherwise be doomed to extinction
- Stop hybrid bumblebees in nature: never buy hybrid bumblebees for your garden for pollination service, it's against the law and therefore against nature
Contents
Bumblebee and We
Photo A. Ungerová (2018)
Introduction
The question here is not "Where to with it?", but "Where to get it?"
Those who have decided to breed bumblebees and are serious about it are working diligently - studying and preparing everything necessary.
Getting a hive is relatively easy, see our guide to choosing a hive or our instructions for modifying and making a hive. However, beginners usually have the biggest concern about how to get bumblebees.
We will provide you with instructions, but first we will give you a basic overview, based on which you can then decide which path to take.
You might be wondering how long bumblebees will stay with you . This depends of course on the conditions and the condition of the queen mother, but depending on the method of acquisition, it can vary by up to a month or more. We will describe this in the next text .
Bumblebees PLUS has these basic recommendations on how to get a bumblebee nest into your hive :
- Please consider first whether you really want to become a bumblebee breeder and whether the work, nerves and time are really worth it:
https://www.cmelaciplus.cz/nezbytna-prvni-uvaha/ - You don't necessarily have to keep bumblebees in hives , you can prepare a varied food offer for them according to the instructions on our website and Facebook . Choose plants according to our catalog: https://www.cmelaciplus.cz/seznam-rostlin-vhodnych-pro-podporu-cmelaku/
- If you really want to get bumblebees, read our instructions :
https://www.cmelaciplus.cz/rad-bych-zacal-chovat-cmelaky/ - Always give priority to the establishment of a queen mother from nature. Do not despair if you do not succeed right at the beginning of the season. In Central Europe, depending on the weather and location (altitude), bumblebee mothers can be established from March to early May, and then the second generation of mothers of some species.
It is also possible to establish bumblebee mothers from the second generation from May to June. - If you are a beginner and for some serious reason you do not dare/ cannot nest a queen from nature (e.g. reduced mobility, etc.), order a nest from an authorized and verified seller of bumblebees from the Czech Republic (ask for documents on the origin of the bumblebees)
- If you fail to rehouse the queen mother, don't despair. Our Bumblebee Rapid Response Team evacuate and save the nest yourself , which would otherwise be destined for destruction.
- Do not 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. But try to go through everything so that you don't miss anything. Bumblebee breeding is not rocket science, but it depends on the details.
So take a look at the chapters listed in the section I would like to raise bumblebees .
Types of bumblebees Photo
Queen Mother Settlement from Nature
In short:
- It's the cheapest way to get bumblebees
- Such a nest will be with you the longest
- You will experience all stages of nest development
- The settlement of a bumblebee queen from nature in your area and its successful breeding is a help to nature
- If you are an advanced breeder, prefer species other than the abundant ground bumblebee (B. terrestris)
In detail:
We recommend this solution as the best for everyone – for nature and for you .
Give preference to a queen mother of a species from your nature . She will thrive in your area precisely because she comes from your area and has all the conditions necessary for her life there species of bumblebee that is not common or even rare
will settle in your area This is much better than placing a purchased nest of bumblebees from breeding . In this case, it would probably be a common ground bumblebee (Bombus terrestris).
If a mother of a local bumblebee species settles in your area , you can help it reproduce. The males from its nest will more easily the natural course of things in nature without violence In the case of a less common species, you will help it spread.
Relatively little is known about the fact that some species of bumblebees, under favorable conditions, also establish a second generation of nests in the same season . These may be early species such as the meadow bumblebee (Bombus pratorum). Its mothers nest as early as March and, thanks to their rapid development, they soon raise new mothers. Some of them do not hibernate, but look for a place to establish their nest . The same can happen with some species of bumblebees that establish nests later, such as the meadow bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum). With a bit of luck, the breeder will find a mother performing a search flight from the end of summer and settle her in the hive. So there is no need to get depressed if your settlement does not succeed in spring.
The time aspect is also important , i.e. how long you will enjoy the occupied nest .
If you house a queen bee from nature in this way, you will have the chance to observe all stages of bumblebee nest development from the solitary phase to the disappearance of the nests, which means at least 3-5 months depending on the species and conditions .
Some bumblebee species, such as the hardy field bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum), can survive in the hive until the first frost , which is easily 6-8 months .
It may seem like a lot of work and you have to admit that the result is not always certain . Yes, of course, it is a bit of a challenge for a beginner, but even an experienced beekeeper may not always succeed .
However, we can confirm that many complete beginners have managed it the first season and today they are experienced beekeepers.
You don't have to worry that you won't succeed as a beginner . On our website, we provide you with instructions and best practices for settling a bumblebee queen from nature. As every year, we will also provide you with a consultation and photo tutorials. If you follow the proven advice, the chances are high. On Facebook Čmeláci PLUS and in the associated section Čmeláci PLUS – Discussion Forum, you can also discuss with other breeders who will support you.
You can find the procedure for placing the queen bee in the hive on our website HERE . It is necessary to go through all the preparatory steps in advance.
What we don't recommend
- Do not try to breed a queen bumblebee from a distant place in your hive, a species that does not have the right living conditions. Even if it settles and seems to be successful in breeding, it simply will not continue. What good will new young queens be if they remain single? Because this species of bumblebee is not found in your area and there are no breeding partners.
- you take a bumblebee mother, which is endangered in the Czech Republic from a location , you will weaken its population even more. Moreover, even a long transport of the mother reduces her chance of nesting. Moreover, it is a legally prohibited manipulation of a protected creature
- If you do not want to try to settle a queen from nature and the main argument for you is lack of time , we recommend that you think again whether you really want to raise bumblebees and why . Raising bumblebees does require time and care. The time spent settling the queen is only a small part of it.
Buying natural bumblebees from an authorized dealer
In short:
- We recommend this solution only in exceptional cases, for example for complete beginners or for disabled breeders
- The number of sellers is increasing, but ask for a certificate of origin and proof of origin from the nature of the Czech Republic
- Buying a nest of abundant ground bumblebees (B. terrestris) is not helping nature where other bumblebee species occur
- If you want to do something for nature, settle a bumblebee queen from nature
In detail:
We recommend this solution for beginners, or if for some really serious reason they do not dare or cannot nest a mother from nature . The reason may be, for example, reduced mobility, etc.
As we wrote above, the reason for buying should not be a lack of time. Caring for bumblebees takes time, and if you don't have it, please don't get involved - thank you.
If you buy a nest from an authorized dealer, you will usually get a natural nest of the abundant bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) . It will be a nest with a first generation of about 10-30 workers or stronger, depending on the agreement with the supplier, the order size of the nest and the time of receipt.
These beautiful bumblebees are abundant in nature. Unfortunately, they are often sold. The reason is that this species is easiest to breed in laboratory conditions. They are not demanding on food sources, consume even frozen pollen and do well in breeding boxes. As a result, their sale (even from Mother Nature) further expands the numbers of an already abundant species, at the expense of other species .
Paradoxically, the same bumblebees do not settle easily, they are expensive and cause worries for the beekeepers. And another paradox – very often they occupy already occupied hives themselves, and this sometimes causes worries for the beekeepers. Mothers of this species can kill the queen settled in the hive and settle there, they are large and dominant.
Note. we write about measures against such a situation in the section on the location of the hive and the use of a protective hive flap .
If you capture a bumblebee nest this way, you will not have a 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 the conditions, you will have the nest for 1.5 - 4 months .
This is less laborious, but it means ordering them in time and, most importantly, being among the lucky ones who get one of the nests that are for sale.
However, we emphasize that if you want to buy bumblebees for your repair, they should be bumblebees from the wild in the Czech Republic. must prove their with a verified document and a sales permit.
You may be offered bumblebees intended for pollination service. 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 possible penalties.
How is the sale of bumblebees in the Czech Republic?
We have already written about this above, here we return to the topic.
In short:
- Give preference to Czech bumblebee producers with documented origin in the Czech Republic
- Prefers Czech breeders with documents permitting breeding
- Prefer breeders who supply you with bumblebees other than the ground bumblebee (B. terrestris)
In detail:
The interest in bumblebees logically encourages many people to breed bumblebees for the purpose of selling them . Breeding and multiplying bumblebees from the wild is not so easy and it is a business where mistakes do not pay off. Such a business can easily end in failure. For example, the breeding is attacked by a viral infection or an unmanageable parasite (predatory mites, parasitic humpbacks, the miniature but deadly wasp Melittobia acasta).
Paradoxically, a common species of bumblebee thrives in laboratory breeding, namely the ground bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) . Some other species can also be bred, but the success rate and thus the efficiency of breeding is lower , for example, the rock bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) or the hypnotic bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum). Therefore, if you buy a bumblebee nest on the market in the Czech Republic, it will most likely be a ground bumblebee.
Another problem is that currently there are no more legal sellers of bumblebee nests from our nature and unfortunately the legislation and processes and rules for issuing permits are not uniform . The situation is improving thanks to the methodology of the Ministry of the Environment.
From experience, we know that some of you will want to buy bumblebees because they want to make it easier to get started, or their circumstances will not allow them to settle a mother bumblebee from the wild.
If you are going to buy bumblebees, be interested in who is selling them. You will quickly know if it is a clean business or a heartless breeder.
For us, the ethics of their breeding and sale are crucial . You can tell this, for example, by the behavior during the sale and the things they themselves point out to you when buying. For example, you may find that they refuse to move the purchased nest to an unsuitable hive because they know that the nest would disappear there. You can read about unsuitable hives HERE . They will also provide you with advice and instructions for breeding, and offer support. If they give you one A4 page of instructions and nothing more, consider buying.
It is equally essential that the right seller breeds and sells bumblebees from the wild in the Czech Republic, whose breeding is regularly supplemented by individuals from the wild . This is not laboratory breeding of bred bumblebees . They will present all documents and permits to you upon request.
A small look into a commercial bumblebee breeding laboratory. It's daily work and care - working under red lights, feeding, cleaning, etc., forget about romance and vacation. Mistakes in breeding and insufficient hygiene or protection of the breeding can erase a year's work in a few days. It's better not to start it yourself, it's a ritual with uncertain results and many risks.
Bumblebee breeding in the laboratory
Source Czech Television
Bumblebee sellers from the Czech Republic
Gradually, other bumblebee sellers are registering and communicating with us. We will list them on our website if they meet all legislative and ethical requirements and, above all, if they succeed in breeding .
This means that they can prove that their bumblebee production is sustainable and not a one-time success in the form of one generation of nests.
If there are sellers of nests of other species of bumblebees than the ubiquitous ground bumblebees, we will be happy to inform you. Breeding rare species of bumblebees in large numbers is very difficult, but it will support nature.
On the website of the Bumblebees PLUS group you will not find support for breeding bumblebees in a laboratory. Our goal is to support bumblebees in the wild. When breeding bumblebees, we mean bumblebees from the wild with free flight and natural reproduction.
Our request and warning:
- Do not support any illegal breeding of bumblebees for sale – not only is it illegal, but it can be harmful to nature.
- If you decide to buy a bumblebee nest, ask the seller for their breeding and sale permit documents.
- Before purchasing, familiarize yourself with the conditions under which and where the nest can be placed.
- Purchased bumblebee nests cannot be placed outside of the locations for which the seller has permission - otherwise, you expose yourself to possible criminal penalties.
- If you want to buy bumblebees, prefer a species other than the abundant ground bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) . However, if you are just starting out, this species can also be used.
- If possible, avoid buying bumblebees and help nature by settling bumblebees from your own nature - it's possible!
Bumblebee Quick Rota – you will rescue bumblebees and settle them with you
In short:
- If you don't manage to get a job in the spring, you still have a chance
- You can also obtain a nest during the season by rescuing it
- even beginners can do it
In detail:
This is another way to get a bumblebee nest and save the bumblebee nest at the same time .
It often happens that a beekeeper prepares a hive, but fails to settle bumblebees in it . It can also happen that for some reason they lose their bumblebees prematurely . On the other hand, it often happens that someone contacts us who is "in the way" of a bumblebee nest.
For example, it could be a nest under the terrace where his small children play, a nest under the roof or near a window, someone in the family/neighbor has a serious allergy to stings, etc. It could also be a nest in danger, for example found during house renovation, compost disposal, a dog's nest dug up...
If there is nothing else to do, we, as the Čmeláci PLUS group, can organize help for free and quickly = find someone who has an empty nest, time, desire and can evacuate such a nest, transport it to a safe place. The number of rescuers and the number of saved nests is still increasing. In addition, since 2020, the Fire Rescue Service has also been cooperating with us, so there will be more information about nests.
proven procedures for this who follows us can become a savior and gain a nest that would otherwise be doomed.
If you are interested in becoming a bumblebee rescuer and a member of the Bumblebee Rapid Rescue Team, or if you want to see rescue stories, you can find everything HERE
Bumblebee Rapid Company – Vrbovec
Bumblebees intended for pollination service do not belong in the garden
In short:
- Bumblebees that do not belong in nature can be purchased on the market in the Czech Republic - hybrid bumblebees intended for pollination service in enclosed spaces or otherwise modified "operational" conditions
- The seller should not sell them to you unless you have an exemption from the Act No. 114/1992 Coll. on Nature and Landscape Protection, as amended, specifically Section 56 Exceptions to prohibitions for monumental trees and specially protected species of plants and animals
- If you do not hold the above exemption, you are at risk of possible penalties
In detail:
On the market in the Czech Republic, as well as abroad, bumblebees are sold for the so-called pollination service, i.e. for work in greenhouses and enclosed spaces .
These bumblebees, or rather their nests, are bought by farmers so that they can grow vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries, etc.) in the winter, for example. Farmers must follow strict rules so that these bumblebees do not escape into the wild, because they do not belong there - they would harm natural bumblebee species . These are large, strong nests of hybrid bumblebees, which represent significant competition to natural bumblebee species. These hybrids have common roots with the natural bumblebee species, but it is a closed breeding. It is not renewed by individuals from nature precisely because it would preserve the specific characteristics for which it was bred.
They are essentially pollination machines, which is why they are sold not as bumblebees but as a product.
problematic in itself - the conditions for using bumblebees for pollination are becoming stricter. See, for example, the position of the Czech Entomological Society , an authority that takes a very negative view of such sales of bumblebees.
It should not happen that you would be allowed to buy such bumblebees and let them fly freely in your garden without a permit. The sale of these bumblebees is legal only by authorized dealers and only under strict conditions. The buyer must ensure that these bumblebees will only move within the closed area of the greenhouse and will be prevented from spreading into the wild . This means that when the nest starts to produce queens, they must be prevented from doing so and the nest and the bumblebees must be destroyed. If you buy them and let them fly into the wild, you may be harming and threatening the original bumblebee species in an attempt to help nature.
You could very well get yourself into trouble if you acquire such bumblebees and expose yourself to criminal legal action .
On our Facebook page Čmeláci PLUS we described a case where the interest in bumblebees was abused by a seller who gave just such bumblebees to unsuspecting customers. The text, supplemented by a number of documents, can be found HERE .
This seller is currently being inspected by the Czech Environmental Inspectorate (ČIZP).
If you really buy such a nest, you will get a developed nest full of workers. This is how they are produced for the pollination service so that they can immediately fulfill their task. So it is a nest at the top and will last you 1 - 2 months . The seller's price for such a nest is around 2,200 CZK.
We assume that there is no one among you who would take this path and knowingly harm nature .
Bumblebees for pollination service in greenhouses
Nest in paper packaging
Photo website of the bumblebee producer
Bumblebees for pollination service in greenhouses
Nest in a plastic box removed from paper packaging
Photo website Bumblebee seller in the Czech Republic
Conclusion
There are many ways to populate a hive with bumblebees. Please try to prioritize nature and bumblebees from your surroundings over purchasing them .
Once you gain experience, you will be able to choose the species of bumblebees you want to settle and help. These can be less common species of bumblebees, it is not necessary to keep only the ground bumblebee.
Bumblebee breeding in gardens is gaining more and more importance. A hobby and enthusiasm can gradually become a way to give back to nature at least part of what we take from it and owe it .
Together , we must not allow the support of nature to become a pursuit of performance, money, and business.
It's up to all of us , so let's walk together on the path of humility and support for bumblebees and nature .
Bumblebee and We
Photo A. Ungerová (2018)