[6] Males are also large, ranging in size from 0.85-1.00 inches (22-25 mm) with eyes much larger than females and with long antennae.

[6] Coloration pattern for males is very similar to females with the area between the wings sometimes extensively yellow.

[7] Example food plants for the southern plains bumble bee are Asclepias, Bidens, blanket flower, bush clover, Cassia, Eryngium, Hypericum, Liatris, Melilotus, Monarda, Padus, Ratibida, Solidago, and Vaccinium.

The southern plains bumble bee occurs in urbanized areas that have suitable floral and nesting resources.

[6] In general, bumble bees are opportunistic nesters that do not dig their own underground nests, but take advantage of pre-existing holes and depressions below the surface formed by rodents or other animals or cavities above the surface created by old logs, stumps, old ground-nesting bird nests, or clumps of grass.

Bumble bees are generally known to hibernate close to the ground surface or down an inch or two in loose soil, or under leaf litter or other debris, in sites that are undisturbed and have adequate organic material to provide shelter.

[10] The species has a small number of records from the Mexican state of Chihuahua, but none within the past decade.