Bumble bees have stout, hairy, robust bodies – usually with black, yellow, and/or red coloration. Bumble bees are variable in size and color patterns, even within a single species, which can make identification challenging. While color variation makes identification difficult, the coloration and pattern of stripes on the abdomen and thorax are often used to distinguish one bumble bee species from another – although for some species morphological features need to be observed. While bumble bees are distinct from most other bee species, there are some confusing look-alikes.