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Bumblebees There are currently 24 species of bumblebee resident in Britain and 250 worldwide

Bumblebees evolved in the Himalayas around 35 million years ago, and all species are quite closely related.

The old English name for a Bumblebee is a Dumbledore just in case you ever wondered where JK Rowling got the name

Another, the Short-haired bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus), is currently being reintroduced after going extinct in 1988.

Britain also has two extinct bumblebee species: Cullum’s bumblebee (Bombus cullumanus) last recorded on the

Berkshire Downs in 1941, and the Apple bumblebee (Bombus pomorum), a short-lived establishment on the south coast

in the mid-1800s.

They are wild, form short-lived social colonies (typically up to 3 months) and construct their own nests in cavities in

hedgerows, under rocks, in disused mouse or birds’ nests, or in cavity walls.

Bumblebees have the longest tongue of all UK bees reaching just over 2 cm at full stretch.

The old English name for a Bumblebee is a Dumbledore just in case you ever wondered where JK Rowling got the name

Seven species of bumblebee (the ‘Big 7’) are widespread across most of Britain. These are:

Red-tailed (Bombus lapidarius)

Early (Bombus pratorum)

Common carder (Bombus pascuorum)

White-tailed (Bombus lucorum)

Buff-tailed (Bombus terrestris)

Garden (Bombus hortorum)

Tree (Bombus hypnorum)

The Heath bumblebee (Bombus jonellus) sometimes joins the group above, to form a ‘Big 8’, although it is absent from

much of the English Midlands.

There are 8 bumblebee species listed on at least one of the English, Welsh and Scottish conservation priority species

lists.

Many of these are endemic species can be abundant in small areas.

Others are more widespread, but at a very low population density.

18 species are social species.

They make nests, collect pollen and have a worker caste.

Remaining 6 species are Cuckoo bumblebees

They have a parasitic lifestyle, taking over existing nests established by other species.

They don’t have workers, just queens and males.

They tend to be widespread but only at a comparatively low abundance.

British bumblebees can be divided into three groups based on queen tail colour and their rarity status.

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Bumblebees have the longest tongue of all UK bees reaching just over 2 cm at full stretch

Similar species

There are many other flying insects which resemble bumblebees!

Sometimes these are deliberate mimics (such as the hoverfly (Volucella bombylans)) exploiting their predator’s

reluctance to take on something which could fight back.

Some look similar because they are closely related to bumblebees eg.Hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophora plumipes))

Sometimes it’s just convergent evolution eg. Spring-flying parasitic fly (Tachina ursina)) where the traits that help

bumblebees thrive (large size, bulky shape, hair, etc.) also favour the survival of other species.

Usually, it is relatively easily to recognise the mimic species.

Bumblebees are bigger, hairier and fly more deliberately with a lower-pitched buzz than most of the similar fly species.

However, sometimes the mimics can be very similar to bumblebees, and short of examining a specimen the best way to

separate the groups is to examine the heads.

Bumblebees have long, multi-section tubular antennae, long tubular mouthparts (though these are often folded up), and

relatively small eyes.

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Top tips for bumblebee ID

Bumblebees can be very difficult to identify at first, although they are often relatively straightforward!

There are 24 species in Britain, but with queens looking different to males (and sometimes to workers), as well as

different colour forms for most species, there can be a bewildering array of different-looking bees.

When, later in the year, sun-bleached and worn bees are prevalent, identification can be very tricky indeed!

The first thing to be aware of is that only seven or eight bumblebee species are both widespread and abundant: these

species are likely to make up around 95-99% of your bumblebee sightings.

There are a further six species (the cuckoo bumblebees) which are parasitic in the nests of these common

species and so are largely similarly widespread, but at a much lower abundance.

The remaining 11 species tend to be localised or habitat-specific, and are correspondingly rarer, though they can be

abundant where present.

Generally, though, even when the rare species are present, the common species will still be more abundant and must be

ruled out first.

Consequently getting to grips with the Big Eight (Common carder, Red-tailed, Early, Tree, Garden, Heath, Bufftailed

and White-tailed bumblebees) is the major step

Bumblebees have a tendency to hide their distinguishing features by curling up – generally views of the face, tail, stripes

and legs are all useful

Step 1. Tail colour

Bumblebees fall into three rough groups based on tail colour – white-tailed (includes off-white through to yellow),

redtailed, and ‘uniform-tailed’ bees, where the tail is the same colour as the rest of the abdomen (usually ginger). This

is the most important thing to start identifying your bumblebee.

Step 2. Banding

The next step is to look at the banding patterns, especially for the white-tailed species. A large number of bumblebees

have the classic white-tail, black-and-yellow-bands look, but they vary from one to three thick yellow bands according to

species.

Buff-tailed bumblebee (left image) has two yellow bands, whereas Garden bumblebee (right image) has three yellow

bands.

Step 3. True or cuckoo bumblebee?

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Cuckoo bumblebees, like male ‘true’ bumblebees, have hairy hind legs with no pollen baskets, but they also have

relatively dark wing membranes, a v-shaped or gently-scalloped edge to the top of the tail colouration, a small brush of

black hairs at the end of the abdomen, and short faces (if your bee has a long face then it’s definitely not a cuckoo).

Step 4. Caste

Working out what caste (queen, worker or male) your bee is can sometimes be easier than getting it to species, and is

always helpful in that process.

Queens and workers are generally very similar to each other, with a couple of exceptions.

Queen Buff-tailed bumblebees have an orangey-buff tail, whereas workers of the same species have white tails (and are

thus often indistinguishable from worker White-tailed bumblebees).

Additionally, worker Early bumblebees often lose the yellow abdominal band of the queen, looking much darker than

their parent.

Generally, male bumblebees have hairy hind legs without a pollen basket (though beware female cuckoo bees, which

also have hairy hind legs).

Males also usually have more facial hair than females (either queens or workers) – and in several species this is a bright,

obvious yellow.

Males also generally have longer, more straggly hair, so if your bee has hairy legs, a moustache, and looks slightly

unkempt it’s probably a male.

Early bumblebee males have yellow facial hair.

Behaviour can be a useful tool to separate males from workers and queens: because males do not have to collect pollen

for the nest, they tend to sit lazily on flowers.

They may also be observed flying along hedgerows searching for a mate.

They do not feed during this time, so will land briefly on a surface, and then fly off again.

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They often patrol the same area for a while, so you may see the same bee repeating the circuit over and over again.

In contrast, females tend to be much busier, flying quickly from flower to flower, and rarely wasting time by resting on

flowers.

The time of year can also be helpful – males become common in late summer and autumn, whereas females are

present throughout the whole lifecycle.

Other features to watch out for…

Some bumblebees also produce melanic individuals.

These produce much larger quantities of a black pigment, melanin, than normal, and so look much darker.

Some species produce entirely-black individuals (such as the Ruderal bumblebee), while others only produce

partlymelanic bees (such as the Tree bumblebee, where the thorax is black but the white tail remains present).

However, there are often the remnants of the ‘normal’ markings, though it may take a strong light to see them!

Above all, identifying bumblebees takes patience. Identification sites:

https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/white-tailed-bumblebees/short-haired-bumblebee/

https://www.naturespot.org.uk/taxonomy/term/19396 https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/identify-a-bumblebee/

Species Listed: ***SPECIES MOST LIKELY IN NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE Social

bumblebees

***Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

***White-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)

***Tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)

***Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)

Heath bumblebee (Bombus jonellus)

Ruderal bumblebee (Bombus ruderatus)

Broken-belted bumblebee (Bombus soroeensis)

Red-tailed bumblebees

***Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

Red-tailed cuckoo bee- Bombus rupestris

***Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) Red-shanked bumblebee (Bombus ruderarius) Bilberry bumblebee

(Bombus monticola)

Ginger-yellow bumblebees Social bumblebees

***Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)

Brown-banded carder bee (Bombus humilis)

Moss carder bee (Bombus muscorum)

Great yellow bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus)

Shrill carder bee (Bombus sylvarum)

Social bumblebees

Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Short haired bumble bee – Bombus subterraneus

Cryptic white-tailed bumblebee (Bombus cryptarum)

Northern white-tailed bumblebee (Bombus magnus)

Social bumblebees

Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

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Status

This bee is not regarded as being scarce or threatened.

**Bombus terrestris is one of the main species used in greenhouse pollination in certain countries Identification

Lengths, queen 20-22, worker 11-17, male 14-16. Forewing lengths queen 18 mm, worker 13 mm, male 14 mm

A large species with dark yellow bands at the front of the thorax and middle of the abdomen

Queens are the only caste which actually have buff-coloured tails

In workers and males the tails are white, although males in particular often have a narrow but distinct yellow-buff band at

the front of the tail.

The huge Buff-tailed queens are distinctive but workers are practically indistinguishable in the field from other species

DNA testing is the only reliable way to accurately identify many specimens.

Males are large, and the yellow in the tail distinguishes them from the White-tailed complex Habitat

One of the ‘Big 7’ widespread and abundant species, found in a wide range of habitats across the UK.

At least in cities in the southern UK the species is becoming winter-active It

may be encountered almost anywhere in lowland Britain or Ireland.

Flight period

Partially bivoltine, with a winter generation under favourable circumstances of available forage in gardens Also

in warm winters, eg. 1992 and 2005.

Queens are found between February and April, according to latitude Males

and new queens between July and October.

Records of workers in January to March are common in southern England.

In the south two generations a year are more and more common, with the second generation foraging as late as

October.

There have even been reports of three generations a year

Bombus terrestris males patrol mating circuits at tree height laying down a pheromone to attract new queens.

The pheromone is used to scent-mark prominent objects (tree trunks, rocks, posts, etc) on the circuit.

The circuit is marked in the morning, and after rain.

Pollen collected

Polylectic. This species probably has the widest diet of any British bumblebee.

Nesting biology

Nest establishment in October-November and workers flying all winter

Nests are underground in old mouse or vole nests.

Tends to prefer shadier sites

Nests are large, with over 500 individuals in many instances

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Creates deep and long tunnels with some tunnels of 2 metres long recorded

Flowers visited

In the early days of the nest it is estimated that a Bombus terrestris queen may have to visit as many as 6000 flowers

per day in order to get enough nectar to maintain the heat needed to brood her eggs (for more about this most difficult

time in a queen's life see the lifecycle pages).

And during every foraging trip the brood will cool down, so the trips should be short.

This is why it is vital that the nest is located close to rewarding flowers.

Visits are made to a wide variety of flowers but particularly Mahonia bushes, both for pollen and nectar.

Pretty soon this hardy species will forage year round in favourable years in the south as long as there is a supply of

flowers supplying pollen and nectar.

Favourite flowers include sallows, cherries, gorse, spring bulbs, thistles, knapweed, bramble, teasel, buddleia, ivy and

scabious. Parasites

In the case of the parasitism of B. terrestris by B.(Psithyrus) vestalis, genetic analysis of individuals captured in the wild

showed that about 42% of the host species' nests at a single location had lost their fight against their parasite" White-

tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)

Status

One of the ‘Big 7’ widespread and abundant species

Identification

Lengths: Queen 19 to 20 mm, worker 11 to 17 mm, male 14 to16 mm

In recent years it has become apparent that the bee known as B. lucorum (Linnaeus, 1761) is in fact a species complex,

containing two other species – Northern white-tailed bumblebee (B. magnus) and Cryptic bumblebee (B. cryptarum) Are

only reliably distinguished as queens (and potentially only by DNA testing).

The Queens have a white tip to the abdomen

Separation of the three species is very difficult, so that definitive records for any of the three species are rare. The

species has a lemon-yellow collar at the front of the thorax and another bright yellow band in the middle of the

abdomen, with a pure white tail

Males have bright yellow facial hairs and are often extensively yellowed, particularly in the thorax.

Habitat

Found in a wide range of habitats across the UK, and one of the typical black-and-yellow species.

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The species has a lemon-yellow collar at the front of the thorax and another bright yellow band in the middle of the

abdomen, with a pure white tail

Flight period

Queens are amongst the first bees to emerge in spring, males do not usually emerge until about August Males

patrol mating circuits at tree height laying down a pheromone to attract new queens.

The pheromone is used to scent-mark prominent objects (tree trunks, rocks, posts, etc) on the circuit.

The circuit is marked in the morning, and after rain.

Pollen collected Nesting biology

They nest in the ground, often in an old mouse or vole nest preferably facing south to keep the nest warm

Will have about 200 workers at the height of season

Flowers visited

Short tongues so forage on flowers with short corollas and daisy-type including sallows, cherries (for queens early in the

year), thistle, knapweed, bramble, teasel.

Sometimes resourceful enough to make a hole through the base of the corolla in other flowers to drink the nectar.

Ie. they are accomplished nectar robbers of comfrey and honeysuckle

Parasites

The cuckoo species of B. lucorum is B. bohemicus

Tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)

One of the ‘Big 7’ widespread and abundant species

Status

This species is not regarded as being of conservation concern in Britain

It can now be found well into Scotland, and is widespread and abundant across England and Wales.

Identification

Body lengths, queen 18 mm, worker 14 mm, male 16 mm. Forewing lengths, queen 15 mm, worker 11 mm, male 13

mm.

A very distinctive species, with a completely ginger-brown thorax and a black abdomen with a white tail.

Particularly in males, the first and sometimes second abdominal segments can also be brown

Always entirely black segments between the brown and the tail.

Occasionally, the bee could be confused with faded B. pascuorum, but the snow-white tail of B. hypnorum is always

obvious.

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Melanic (all black) and semi-melanic specimens are not infrequent, but there is usually ginger discernible at the front or

back of the thorax.

Has the longest tongue of all species Habitat

Found in a wide range of habitats across the UK despite only first arriving in the country in 2001

But as with most other Pyrobombus it is a species closely associated with suburbia and open woodland conditions.

Synanthropic so associated with gardens

Flight period

Queens emerge from hibernation in late February or March.

Can have two generations in the year (as do many other Pyrobombus in the south of England).

Males have been found in the second half of May and again at the end of August and early September.

Late flying queens have been noted in November and even early December.

Pollen collected

No data for Britain, but the species is known to be broadly polylectic.

Nesting biology

Nests in aerial cavities, often using old bird nests or nest boxes, tree holes, and small mammal nests as starters.

Associated with human activity so is regularly found nesting under eaves, behind soffit boards and in cavity walls.

Also known to nest in compost heaps

Has larger colonies than most Pyrobombus with up to 400 workers.

Flowers visited

It is a short tongued species

Polylectic so will visit a very wide range of flowers :

comfrey, dead nettles, apple, raspberry,vetches, rape,roses,nasturtium, flowering currant, foxglove, knapweed,

delphinium, thistles, mallow, bramble, honeysuckle, lavender, bluebell, aquilegia, daffodil, aubretia, flowering

currant,cotoneaster and ceanothus among others.

Parasites

No parasites are recorded for this species in Britain, but elsewhere within the wider range of B. hypnorum, the nonBritish

B. norvegicus is a social parasite.

https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/tree-bumblebee-bombus-hypnorum/

Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)

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One of the ‘Big 7’ widespread and abundant species

Status

This species is not regarded as being of conservation concern.

Identification

Body lengths, queen 17-20, workers 11-16, male 14-15 mm. Forewing lengths queen 16 mm, worker 13 mm, male 14 mm

All three castes are similar, with a yellow-black-yellow thorax, a yellow band at the base of the abdomen, and a pure white

tail.

Both it and the Heath bumblebee (Bombus jonellus) also have round faces only as long as they are wide, whereas the

Garden bumblebee has a face between 1.1 and 1.4 times as long as wide housing a long tongue

It has the longest tongue of any bumblebee in the UK, it is usually around 1.5 cm long, but some bees can stretch

to over 2 cm

The male genital capsule is useful to check the ID, particularly of worn specimens.

Males of the Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) have black hair around the mandibles

The abdominal band in the Garden bumblebee often extends backwards onto the second abdominal segment.

The Garden bumblebee is also generally less neat in appearance

Habitat

A widespread, although not always a frequently found species.

Colonises a wide range of habitats, although absent from many upland areas, especially if these are of a moorland

character.

Often frequent in gardens, where it is one of two common species found visiting foxglove.

Flight period

In the south of England this eusocial species queens emerge from hibernation as early as March, and there can be two

generations a year, with the second staring in June

The species is eusocial with queens emerging from hibernation from March to June

Workers are present from late April onwards

Males and new females from July to October.

The colony cycle of this species is slightly earlier than that of is congener Bombus ruderatus.

The species is much later emerging in northern Scotland and the Scottish Islands than in the south of England and

allowance for this geographical variation must be made.

Pollen collected

Predominately pollen from the plant families Fabaceae (pea family), Lamiaceae (mint and other herbs) and

Scrophulariaceae ( figworts).

Regularly collects pollen from greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) even in the presence of plentiful white dead-nettle

(Lamium album).

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Papaveraceae are also readily visited for pollen

Nesting biology

Nests are always under cover, but may be only shallowly underground, down to 50cm.

Queen uses old small mammal nest as a starting point for her nest.

Colonies are fairly small and short-lived with an average life of around 14 weeks

Have a reputation for nesting in "unsuitable" places such as coat pockets, buckets and inside lawnmowers

Mature nests are medium-sized, with about 100 workers

Males patrol mating circuits laying down a pheromone to attract new queens.

Usually they patrol at less than one metre from the ground.

Flowers visited

While flying between flowers that are close together, e.g. foxgloves the queen bee often keeps her long tongue extended

Because of its long tongue it can forage on flowers that have deep corollas that would keep out other bees.

You will hardly ever see it on open or daisy type flowers unless it is gathering pollen

A wide range of flowers are visited, both for pollen and nectar with a marked preference for the flowers of red clover

(Trifolium pratense) if these are available together with cowslips, foxglove, vetches, Viper's bugloss and lavender

Parasites

The species is parasitized by the similar-looking Barbut’s cuckoo-bumblebee (Bombus barbutellus), but the cuckoo does

not have pollen baskets.

Heath bumblebee (Bombus jonellus)

Status

This bee is not regarded as being scarce or threatened.

Identification

Body lengths, queen 16 mm, worker 12mm, male 12mm. Forewing length queen 13 mm, worker 10 mm, male 11 mm

Relatively small species, very similar to the generally larger Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)..

Though generally a white-tailed species, an orange-tailed form occurs on Shetland and in the Western Isles, which can be

mistaken for the Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum).

All castes have a yellow-black-yellow thorax, the final thoracic band merging with a yellow band at the front of the

abdomen.

Males also have a very bright yellow face hairs

Has a small round face, only as long as it is wide.

Tends to have a shaggier, unkempt appearance,

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Habitat

Strongly associated with heathland and moorland but it does occur in a wide variety of other habitats (parks and gardens)

but less frequent

Flight period

In southern lowland areas B. jonellus is often bivoltine, with first-generation queens searching for nest sites in March, and

males and new females are produced in May. These queens may either enter hibernation or found new nests in June.

These nests produce their sexuals in late August or September. In northern and upland areas nests are not founded until

June, with males in late August and September. Workers may therefore be found between April and September in

southern and lowland areas, but only between July and September in northern or upland areas. Pollen collected

Widely polylectic.

Nesting biology

This species nests in a variety of situations, including roof-spaces; old birds' nests (usually in holes); moss and leaf-litter

on the surface of the soil and underground in old mouse or vole nests. The nest is small, usually with fewer than 50

workers.

Flowers visited

Short tongued with favourite flowers including heathers, sallows, clovers, scabious and thistle both for pollen and nectar.

Parasites

The cuckoo bumblebee Bombus sylvestris attacks nests of this species.

Ruderal bumblebee (Bombus ruderatus)

One of our largest bumblebee species, found only in the south of England and scarce even there after a considerable

decline through the 20th century.

Widespread across this range, but never abundant where found.

Body lengths, queen 22 mm, worker 16 mm, male 15 mm. Forewing lengths queen 18 mm, worker 13 mm, male 14 mm

All three castes are similar, with a yellow-black-yellow thorax, a yellow band at the base of the abdomen, and a pure white

tail.

Similar in appearance to, but generally bigger than, the Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum), Heath bumblebee

(Bombus jonellus), and Barbut’s cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus barbutellus, which probably parasitizes this species).

The cuckoo does not have pollen baskets, and both it and Heath bumblebee have round faces only as long as they are

wide.

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The male genital capsule can be useful to check the ID, particularly of worn specimens.

The Ruderal bumblebee is very similar to the Garden bumblebee

Male Ruderal bumblebee have ginger mandibles

Generally, the thoracic yellow bands are more equal in the Ruderal bumblebee

The Garden bumblebee is generally less neat in appearance

The Ruderal bumblebee produces melanic (all black) individuals far more frequently than any other British bumblebee

species, and all-black bumblebees are likely to be this species.

Status

Now known as Nationally Scarce (Nb)

Included in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan as a Priority Species.

Habitat

Populations centred on extensive river-valley systems in southern and central England

Flight period

The species is eusocial with queens emerging from hibernation from April to June; workers are present from May, and

males and new females from July to October.The colony cycle of this species is slightly later than that of is congener B.

hortorum. Pollen collected

Predominately pollen from the families Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Scrophulariaceae. However, as noted above, Iridaceae

and Boraginaceae can also be significant pollen sources. If available, red clover (Trifolium pratense) is strongly preferred.

Nesting biology

Prefers to nest underground

The nest size is reported to be large, with average of 100 workers.

Flowers visited

Vetches, clover, comfrey, knapweed, thistle, borage, viper's bugloss, yellow iris, marsh woundwort and

nettle.

Will also visit very deep-tubed flowers such as foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum).

Parasites

It is very likely that the cuckoo bumblebee Bombus barbutellus parasitises this species.

Broken-belted bumblebee (Bombus soroeensis)

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Status

This bee is not regarded as being scarce or threatened. However, modern research suggests that its status is in need of

review.

Identification

Body lengths, queen 16 mm, worker, 12 mm, male 13 mm. Forewing lengths queen 15 mm, worker 10 mm, male 12 mm

The yellow band at the front of the thorax is an intense, bright yellow

The white tail often has a beige hue at the front with a scattering of yellow hairs.

In some males this can increase to a peachy-orange suffusion of the front half of the tail.

Despite the English name, the ‘broken’ abdominal band is not a good ID feature

As the abdominal band frequently breaks through wear in similar species such as the White-tailed bumblebee (Bombus

lucorum).

However, in the Broken-belted bumblebee the yellow of the band leaks forward onto the first abdominal segment, giving

the appearance of two crescent-shaped bars almost touching in the middle

The male genital capsule and female mandibles are useful to check the ID, particularly of worn specimens.

Habitat

Strongly associated with extensive moorland in the north and west

But does occur in a variety of other habitats, including the extensive calcareous grasslands of southern England

Flight period

Univoltine. Nest searching queens are among the last species to emerge throughout its range, being present in June to

August, according to latitude.

The males, are similarly late to emerge, often not being seen until September and October.

Pollen collected

Polylectic. It is very fond of the smaller-flowered legumes, such as the melilots (Melilotus spp.) whilst visiting bellflowers

(Campanula spp.) and Devil's-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis).

Nesting biology

This species nests underground in old mouse or vole nests. The nest is rather small, usually with fewer than 100 workers.

Flowers visited

Visits are made to a variety of flowers, both for pollen and nectar.

Favourite flowers include white dead nettle, clovers, bramble, comfrey, heather, scabious, knapweed Parasites

No cuckoo-bee is known to attack this species in the Atlas area.

.

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Red-tailed bumblebees

Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

One of the ‘Big 7’ widespread and abundant species, found in a wide range of habitats across the UK.

Status

This bee is not regarded as being scarce or threatened.

Identification

Body Lengths, queen 20-22, workers 11-16, male 14-16. Forewing lengths, queen 17 mm, worker 12 mm, male 12 mm

Broad heads with long body.

Queens and workers are jet-black, with a bright red tail covering up to 50% of the abdomen.

Males have yellow facial hair and bright yellow bands at the front and rear of the thorax

Similar red tail to females (though this fades quickly in sunlight and can appear yellow or even white in worn specimens).

The scarce Red-shanked carder (Bombus ruderarius) is very similar, but has a rounder abdomen and longer face, and

females have red tibial hairs making up the pollen baskets (black in female Red-tailed bumblebees).

Males of the Red-tailed bumblebee have long red hairs on their hind tibiae, but they have yellow facial hairs, unlike the

Red-tailed cuckoo or Red-shanked carder.

No pollen baskets.

The male genital capsule is useful to check the ID, particularly of worn specimens.

Wings are transparent

Habitat

Associated with a wide range of habitats

Encountered in gardens as well as the open countryside, wildflower-rich grassland and woodland.

Flight period

The species is eusocial, with queens emerging from hibernation in March, workers present from April onwards, and males

and new females from July to early October.

Most bumblebee males patrol mating circuits at tree top height laying down a pheromone to attract new queens.

The pheromone is used to scent-mark prominent objects (tree trunks, rocks, posts, etc) on the circuit.

The circuit is marked in the morning, and after rain.

Pollen collected

The species is polylectic.

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Nesting biology

Nests are underground and the base of dry stone dykes and walls are popular locations.Usually started in old mammal

nests.

Populations are large, with between 100 and 300 workers.

The life-cycle is long, about 5 or 6 months.

The species is remarkable for its use of ‘traditional’ hibernation sites, which are north-facing banks, usually within open

woodland.

Large numbers of queens use these sites year after year.

Flowers visited

Thistles, bird’s-foot trefoil and buddleia are popular

Lapidarius have comparatively short tongues and prefer flowers that form a distinct landing platform, such as daisies,

dandelions, bird’s-foot trefoil, buddleia and thistles.

The heads of these flowers are made up of many small florets each containing only a small quantity of nectar.

While on these flowers the bees probe many times and walk around the flower rather than fly.

So the bees are going for a low yield of nectar per probe, but minimum time and energy between probes.

Parasites

The species is parasitized by the similar-looking Red-tailed cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus rupestris): the female of this

species can be split from the Red-tailed bumblebee by their very dark wings, and the males by their greyish yellow bands.

Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)

One of the ‘Big 7’

Status

This bee is not regarded as being scarce or threatened.

Identification

Body lengths in mm , queen 15-17, workers 10-14, male 11-13.

Fore wing lengths, queen 13mm, worker 10 mm, male 10 mm.

The UK’s smallest bumblebee

It has a red tail which varies in hue and extent

Usually noticeably smaller and more of a dull orange than the similar Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius).

The yellow abdominal stripe is frequently lost or reduced in workers

Males are often extensively yellow, including very obvious yellow facial hairs

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The Bilberry bumblebee (Bombus monticola) and males of the Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) can be similar

but have much more extensive red tails

The orange-tailed Scottish Isles form of the Heath bumblebee (Bombus jonellus) is similar but does not co-occur with the

Early bumblebee.

Habitat

Widespread and abundant species, found in a wide range of habitats across the UK Strongly

associated with gardens and woodland habitats.

It may also occur on open grasslands, heath and moorland but much less frequent Flight

period

Bivoltine in the south, with a smaller late-summer generation; univoltine towards the north.

A spring specialist nest-searching queens are among the first species to emerge from hibernation throughout its range,

Present from March to May, according to latitude.

The males similarly emerge early, often being seen as early as April / May or June.

So it is quite common to have two generations a year.

In the north queens emerge later and there is just one generation a year.

Pollen collected Polylectic.

The flowers of rosaceous plants such as blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.) and raspberry

(Rubus idaeus) are especially popular.

Queens are often seen at Rhododendron flowers in gardens.

Nesting biology

This species nests underground in old mouse or vole nests

Also in old bird nests, especially if these are in holes in trees - or even bird-boxes

The size is small - medium with a maximum of 100 workers at most

They are shorter lived than other bumblebee nests, averaging just 14 weeks

It has been reported that they can have two or even three colonies a year.

That is new queens, instead of hibernating, will immediately start a nest.

Flowers visited

In the north and south workers can be seen foraging until September or even October.

Visits are made to a variety of flowers, both for pollen and nectar

Short tongue so preferred flowers include brambles, sallows, currants, rhododendrons, white clovers, lavender,sage,

scabious ,allium cotoneaster, thistles and other daisy type flowers.

Parasites

The cuckoo-bee Bombus sylvestris attacks this species.

Red-shanked bumblebee (Bombus ruderarius)

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Status

Not listed as scarce but its numbers have apparently declined greatly in recent years and there is now some concern over

its true status. Identification

A small species

Body lengths, queen 17 mm, worker 15 mm, male 13 mm. Forewing lengths are queen 13 mm, worker 11 mm, male 10

mm.

Bare, black and shining legs with a fringe of orange hairs in queens and workers

Body hair: Long and scruffy

Queens and workers are very similar to the common Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

However they have red tibial hairs around the pollen baskets, long faces Also

a generally smaller and rounder abdomen.

Males have greyish-yellow bands, much less bright than males of the Red-tailed bumblebee and similar to the larger

Redtailed cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus rupestris).

The banding pattern is similar to that of the Shrill carder bumblebee (Bombus sylvarum) but the yellow bands of the

Redshanked carder are much darker, almost blending with the black background (obviously straw-coloured in the Shrill

carder)

The red tail of Red-shanked carders is a much brighter red than the washed-out orange of the Shrill carder bumblebee.

The male genital capsule is useful to check the ID, particularly of worn specimens.

Transparent wings

Habitat

Confined to the south of England and Wales with the exception of a strong population on Coll and Tiree. Generally, but

not always, found in association with large areas of open wildflower rich grassland.

Flight period

The first queens leave their hibernation sites from mid- to late April onwards (there has been the occasional sighting in

March).

Regarded as the first of the carder bees to commence nesting each year.

The colony dies during August or early September

It is vital that suitable forage is available throughout the flight period of the colony.

Pollen collected

Pollen from plants of the families Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Scrophulariaceae is particularly favoured.

Nesting biology

In spring each fertile queen constructs a nest of grass clippings and moss on the ground under cover of long vegetation or

slightly underground, often utilising an old mouse nest as a foundation.

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The colony has between 50 and 100 individuals at maturity

Males and new queens are produced at the end of July and during August.

Once the new sexual forms have hatched the nest disintegrates

The mated queens go into hibernation whilst the workers and males can be found on flowers before eventually dying.

The hibernation site for queens is unknown.

Flowers visited

A large number of plants are visited for nectar; pollen collection is more restricted, with Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and

Scrophulariaceae being particularly favoured including dead nettle, sallows, vetches, clovers, scabious, brambles,

thistles.

Parasites

None specifically recorded in Britain.

Bilberry bumblebee (Bombus monticola)

Status

This bee was not regarded as being scarce or threatened, but has now been included on English Nature’s Species

Recovery Programme because of the modern evidence of serious decline.

Identification

Body lengths, queen 16 mm (above left) , worker 12 mm, male 14 mm (above right). Forewing lengths, queen 15 mm,

worker 10 mm, male 10 mm.

A particularly attractive bumblebee, with bright yellow bands on the thorax and a rich orange-red tail covering around

twothirds of the abdomen.

The Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), Scottish Isles orange-tailed form of the Heath bumblebee (Bombus jonellus),

and males of the Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) have the same red tail and yellow-black-yellow thorax of the

Bilberry bumblebee

Only this species has the red tail extending over more than 50% of the abdomen.

Habitat

A localised and declining species, found almost exclusively on moorland in association with stands of Bilberry.

No records from the south-east.

Recent research has shown a frequent connection with grassland habitats as well as moorland ones.

Flight period

The species is eusocial, with queens emerging from hibernation in April

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Workers are present from May onwards, and males and new queens from July to early October.

Pollen collected

The species is polylectic but shows a relatively restricted choice of pollen sources

Includes bilberries (Vaccinium spp.), clovers (Trifolium spp.) and bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.).

Nesting biology

Nests are underground and are started in old mammal nests.

Nest sizes are fairly small, and the colonies often have fewer than 50 workers.

The life-cycle is also short, about 3-4 months.

Flowers visited

Bilberries (Vaccinium spp.) and sallow (Salix spp.) are much used in spring

Bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), clovers (Trifolium spp.) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and bramble (Rubus

fruticosus agg.) attended in early to mid-summer

Bell heather (Erica cinerea) and bilberries in mid to late summer.

Parasites

It is likely that this species is attacked by the socially parasitic bee, Bombus sylvestris.

.

Ginger-yellow bumblebees Social bumblebees

Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)

The only one of three all-ginger bumblebees to be a member of the ‘Big 7’ Status

Across much of the UK, the only species present is the Common carder bee

Identification

Lengths, queen 16-18, workers 10-15, male 13-14 mm. Forewing lengths queen 13 mm, worker 10 mm, male 11 mm

Males, workers and queens are similar in appearance

Only species that has black hairs on the abdomen

Ginger-brown all over with no clearly-delineated tail.

Females usually have creamy-white sides to the thorax

Males are often yellower, with more obvious facial hair tufts.

Males can also be distinguished by their genital capsules and by the bulging antennal segments.

Only three species (Common carder bee; Moss carder bee, Bombus muscorum; and Brown-banded carder bee, Bombus

humilis) are all-ginger

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A few others (notably the Great yellow bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus) and the Field cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus

campestris) can look unicolorous, but these are yellow, rather than ginger - always have a dark bar between the wing

bases.

Some mainland individuals have so many black hairs that they can appear to show a black band across the abdomen

However the ginger tail colour will still split the species from the Tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum).

Habitat

Common in a variety of habitats, including towns and gardens, woodland and arable farmland Flight

period

Eusocial with queens emerging from hibernation in early March

Workers are foraging from April onwards

Males and new queens emerge in May in the south making it possible to have two generations a year.

In the north queens may not emerge until May.

The species may be two months later emerging in northern Scotland than in the south.

Pollen collected

The species is polylectic but with a preference for flowers of the Fabaceae, Scrophulariacae, Lamiaceae and red-flowered

Asteraceae.

Nesting biology

Nests are made above-ground in tall, but open grassland, under hedges and piles of plant litter OR nests just below

ground in old mammal burrows

It may occasionally use bird boxes and holes in trees.

It is one of the carder-bees: these bees gather moss and dry grass to make the covering of the nest.

Nest sizes are fairly small, lasting 25 weeks, with 60-150 workers

They don’t make honey or wax, and feed their larvae with a mix of pollen and nectar.

The life-cycle of the nest is remarkably long, with workers still present in September and October in some cases.

Flowers visited

Has a medium length tongue and can often be found foraging on clovers vetches, sallows, brambles, thistles, foxglove,

blackberries, and later in the year on thyme, buddleia, knapweed, sage and lavender.

Associated with flowers with longer corollae, especially Fabaceae, Scrophulariacae, Parasites

This species is attacked by the socially parasitic bee, Bombus campestris.

Brown-banded carder bee (Bombus humilis)

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Status

The scarcest of the three all-ginger carder bumblebees

Identification

Body lengths, queen 17 mm, worker 13 mm, male 13 mm. Forewing lengths queen 13 mm, worker 10 mm, male 11 mm

Males, workers and queens are similar in appearance

Ginger-brown all over with no clearly-delineated tail

Often with a darker brown band on the second abdominal segment.

Has no black hairs on the abdomen (unlike the Common carder)

Does have a thin scattering of black hairs in amongst the ginger around and above the wing bases

The brown abdominal band that give the species its English name is variable in appearance and is not a reliable feature

to split the three species (Common carder, Bombus pascuorum; Moss carder, Bombus muscorum; and Brown-banded

carder) are all-ginger

However the all over brown colour ensures the trio can be easily split off from other bumblebees.

Habitat

Found in the south of England and Wales

Generally on dry open grasslands, heaths and brownfield sites

Flight period

Overwintered queens search for nesting sites during May and early June. Workers fly between June and September;

males during August and September.

There may be two generations in some places as workers and males can be seen right up until late September during

good summers and in places where the foraging is good.

Pollen collected

There is a strong preference for pollen from plants from the families Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Scrophulariaceae.

Nesting biology

B. humilis queens find nests on the surface of the ground in moderately tall, open grassland.

They may well use an old mouse nest as a base.

The nest is covered with fragments of dead grass and moss which are gathered, initially by the queen and later by the

workers.

They are small containing no more than 40 - 50 workers

Flowers visited

Generally on dry open grasslands, heaths and brownfield sites

The species will forage for nectar at a variety of plants, including yellow Asteraceae.

Favourite flowers include vetches, clovers, dead nettle, honeysuckle, roses, thistles,knapweed and teasel.

Parasites

Bombus (Psithyrus) campestris has been recorded as a social parasite of this species in mainland Europe (Løken,

1984).

Moss carder bee (Bombus muscorum)

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Status

Although not noted as being of conservation significance it is likely that its status is in need of revision.

Identification

Body lengths, queen 18 mm, worker 14 mm, male 14 mm. Forewing length, queen 14 mm, worker 10 mm, male 12 mm

Ginger-brown all over with no clearly-delineated tail Identification is very difficult in the field.

In females this relies, in the main, on the presence (B. humilis) or absence (B. muscorum) of black hairs on the thorax in

most specimens, although this distinction is not complete.

Under a microscope, the form of the pits from which certain of the tergal hairs arise is the best character.

The form of the male genitalia is diagnostic but requires microscopic examination.

Both species are readily confused with specimens of the much more common B. pascuorum where the black hairs on

the side of the abdomen are very reduced.

This is a particular problem towards the north. There are a number of distinct forms associated with some of the larger

offshore islands.

The abdomen is usually paler than the thorax and almost appears blonde in some specimens, often with a more intense

colour on the second abdominal segment.

Only three species (Common carder, Bombus pascuorum; Moss carder, Bombus muscorum; and Brown-banded carder)

are all-ginger, and consequently the trio can be easily split off from other bumblebees.

The Moss carder bee has no black hairs on the abdomen

Has no black hairs on the thorax (Brown-banded carder bee has a thin scattering of black hairs around and above the

wing bases).

The presence or absence of a dark abdominal band is not a reliable feature for splitting the species.

Habitat

Generally open, damp flower-rich areas such as grassland, moorland and marsh edges The

species is more frequent in the north and west, and is largely coastal in the south.

Flight period

The species is eusocial, with queens emerging from hibernation in May

Workers present from June onwards

Males and new females from July to early September.

Pollen collected

The species is polylectic but with a strong preference for flowers of the Fabaceae (pea family), Scrophulariacae(figwort),

Lamiaceae (dead nettles)and red-flowered Asteraceae.

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Nesting biology

Nests are made above-ground in tall, but open grassland.

It is one of the carder-bumblebees, which gather moss and dry grass to make the covering of the nest.

Nest sizes are small, with between 40 and 120 workers The

life of the nest is short, about 3 months.

This bumblebee is said to be aggressive in defending its nest

Flowers visited

Strongly associated with flowers with longer corollae, especially Fabaceae, Scrophulariacae, Lamiaceae and red-flowered

Asteraceae.

Favourite flowers include clovers, vetches, thistles, teasel, bird's-foot trefoil, brambles and heathers

Parasites

This species may be attacked by the socially parasitic species Bombus campestris, but this requires confirmation

Great yellow bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus)

One of the rarest British bumblebees

Appears to have a particular association with red clover.

A large species, the abdomen and thorax are entirely covered with sandy-yellow hairs, with the exception of a black band

across the thorax between the wing bases.

One of our current projects is dedicated to Saving the Great Yellow bumblebee in Scotland - find out more here.

https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Slater-Great-yellow-bumblebee-Factsheet-

02.15.pdf Status

It is one of five bumblebee species selected as part of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Identification

Body lengths, queen 20 mm, worker 16 mm, male 15 mm.

Hair length is medium and even, forewing lengths queen 18 mm, worker 12 mm, male 14 mm

A large species, the abdomen and thorax are entirely covered with sandy-yellow hairs, with the exception of a black band

across the thorax between the wing bases.

Long-tongued Habitat

Restricted to machair and other flower-rich areas in the Orkneys, Scottish islands, and Caithness and Sutherland. A

species of extensive natural and semi-natural grassland mosaics which support a high density of flowering legumes,

particularly common bird's-foot trefoil and red clover; stands of common knapweed are also important.

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Flight period

Overwintered queens are found in May and June

Workers from June to September Males

in August and September.

Pollen collected

Does not specialise exclusively on any one plant species.

However, overwintered queens on the Outer Hebrides show a strong preference for bird's-foot trefoil in the spring.

Later in the season they prefer red clover and common knapweed.

Nesting biology

Nests are usually constructed underground in small mammal burrows or off rabbit burrows- particularly if mammalian nest

material is present.

In the Outer Hebrides areas of tussocky marram are very attractive to nest-searching queens.

Acceptable nesting sites may well be a limiting resource as usurpation attempts were observed several times during

intensive studies in 1998.

Flowers visited

Good foraging areas are associated with unimproved, autumn or winter grazed, cattle pastures

This bee visits a range of flower species but is found particularly on those of the family Fabaceae

Over 50% of foraging visits were to red clover a 1998 study

Parasites

None reported from Britain.

Shrill carder bee (Bombus sylvarum)

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Status

Other than the extinct and re-introduced Short-haired bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus), this is perhaps our rarest

bumblebee

Much rarer in recent years and may now be in danger of becoming extinct in Britain.

Identification

Body lengths, queen 17 mm, worker 14 mm, male 13 mm. Forewing lengths queen 13 mm, worker 9 mm, male 11 mm Is

a distinctive greyish-green, straw-coloured species with a clear black band across the thorax.

Distinguished from others by its distinct dull orange tail

The male genital capsule is useful to check the ID, particularly of worn specimens

So called because of the high-pitched buzz it makes during flight Habitat

Known only from a handful of sites in south Wales and southern England and generally scarce even there

Occurs in a variety of open, flower-rich situations such as sand dunes, edges of salt-marshes, shingle beaches, chalk

downland and heathland.

Flight period

Queens fly from May, workers from late June, and males and new queens from August

Pollen collected

Pollen from plants of the families Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Scrophulariaceae is particularly favoured.

Nesting biology

Nests are usually built in tussocks in a slight hollow on the ground amongst rough vegetation, or just underground, in early

June.

The nests are small with fewer than 50 workers at most

Emerge from mid-June onwards and the new generation of males and females appears during late August and

September.

The comb is light yellow with a neat appearance

Little wax is secreted, this being worked into thin sheets

Flowers visited

A wide variety of flowers are visited, mainly from the families Fabaceae, Boraginaceae, Lamiaceae, Scrophulariaceae,

Dipsacaceae and Asteraceae. including white dead nettle, everlasting peas, clovers, vetches, bramble, teasel and

scabious https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Slater-Shrill-carder-bee-Factsheet-

02.15.pdf

https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BBCT037-Shrill-Carder-bee-Leaflet-02.17.pdf

Short haired bumble bee – Bombus subterraneus

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Status

Although formerly widespread and locally common in southern England, this species has experienced a catastrophic

decline during the last fifty years. Declared extinct in 2000 considered

A reintroduction project began at Dungeness in 2011 using queens from Sweden and workers have been seen in several

successive years

Identification

Forewing lengths queen 17 mm, worker 11 mm, male 12 mm

This species is very closely related to the more northerly distributed B. distinguendus and males of the two species can

be extremely hard to separate.

The species is very variable, with a white to buff-coloured tail and a yellow-black-yellow thorax (although the second band

is sometimes lost in females).

Males generally have two buff-coloured bands on the abdomen

The extent of these varies from virtually non-existent to covering almost the entire abdomen.

Queens and workers generally have a broad first yellow abdominal band and a narrower second band, though the extent

of each of these varies.

The ventral surface of the sixth abdominal sternite should be checked for the presence of a central longitudinal keel

Habitat

A species of herb-rich grassland, having a strong association with the pre-intensification farming systems of lowland

Britain.

Flight period

Queens search for nest sites during May.

Nests mature during late August or early September

Pollen collected

No detailed analysis of pollen collected is known, but it is likely that red clover pollen is of particular importance to this

species.

Nesting biology

In spring, fertile queens seek out old mouse nests as the foundation for their nests.

The nests are underground and at the peak have 75 - 100 workers

As this species is closely related to B. distinguendus, it is likely that nests situated a short distance underground are

preferred.

Observed large number of first-brood workers produced by queens.

Males and females are produced during August and September.

Once the new sexual forms have emerged, the nest disintegrates

The mated queens go into hibernation whilst the workers and males can be found on flowers before eventually dying.

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Hibernation sites for queens are unknown.

Flowers visited

Red clover (Trifolium pratense), honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), white dead-nettle (Lamium album) and

viper'sbugloss (Echium vulgare).

Favourite flowers include white dead nettle, red clover, honeysuckle, teasel, bramble, comfrey,honeysuckle and

viper'sbugloss.

Parasites

No cuckoo bumblebees are known to attack this species.

https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/short-haired-bumblebee-reintroduction-project/

Cryptic white-tailed bumblebee (Bombus cryptarum)

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Status Identification

In recent years it has become apparent that the bee known as White tailed bumblebee-Bombus lucorum is in fact

a species complex, containing two other species – Northern white-tailed bumblebee-Bombus magnus and Cryptic

white-tailed bumblebee- Bombus cryptarum. Separation of the three species is very difficult, so that definitive

records for any of the three species are rare

Only reliably distinguished as queens (and potentially only by DNA testing).

Queens have an s-shaped black mark through the yellow of the collar in front of the wing bases, although the legitimacy

of this has been questioned and more research is required.

Habitat

Appears to have a largely northern and western distribution

Flight period Pollen collected Nesting biology Flowers visited Parasites

Northern white-tailed bumblebee (Bombus magnus)

Status Identification

In recent years it has become apparent that the bee known as White tailed bumblebee-Bombus lucorum is in fact

a species complex, containing two other species – Northern white-tailed bumblebee-Bombus magnus and Cryptic

white-tailed bumblebee- Bombus cryptarum. Separation of the three species is very difficult, so that definitive

records for any of the three species are rare.

These are only reliably distinguished as queens (and potentially only by DNA testing)

Queens forewing length is 17 mm and have the collar extended significantly further down the sides of the thorax than do

the White-tailed bumblebee

Generally have a broad, pale yellow collar at the front of the thorax

Have a broad yellow band in the middle of the abdomen, with a pure white tail

Workers are also practically indistinguishable from Buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) although Buff-tailed

bumblebees sometimes show yellow hairs in the tail, unlike the White-tailed bumblebee, therefore it is safest to record

these as terrestris/lucorum

Habitat

Records so far indicate that the cryptic species are most abundant in the north and west, with the true White-tailed

bumblebee widespread throughout lowland Britain

Difficulties of identification mean this may not be the full story

Favours heath, moorland habitats and woods on higher ground

Flight period Pollen collected Nesting biology Flowers visited Parasites

Bombus bohemicus is its cuckoo species

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