The insect shown here, is probably Bombus fraternus, and was found at the edge of the forest/greenhouse area behind the Biological Sciences Building on Duke University’s West Campus.  This species is broadly distributed, from Quebec to Florida in Eastern North America, and also occurs on the West Coast.  All bumblebees belong to the genus Bombus.  Bumblebees are generally larger than other bees, and have a mostly black, yellow, and orange pigmentation.  Bumblebees make their nests underground, often in abandoned mouse nests.  Queen bees hibernate during the winter, and in the spring they begin the new colonies, raising workers and the first batch of offspring.  The workers then manage and improve the nest, gather and store food, and take care of the larvae.  Some bumblebee species are be parasites of other bumblebee colonies.