Bumble ID by Color
(Links to appropriate pages are embedded here)
As a general overview, one starts by looking at the individual bumble and asking a series of questions including:
Is it a bumble bee? (see page on Species Identification for tips)
Does the bumble have a corbiculum? (if no, then male or cuckoo)
Does the bumble show a lot of white (shoulder or end of abdomen)?
if no red, is the bee striped?