Basic Information
Common name: Broken-belted bumblebee
Scientific name: Bombus soroeensis
Black notch in middle of yellow abdomen band
Look for a peach trim to the tail
Classification
Bee TypeBumblebee
StatusLess Common
Cuckoo StatusNon-cuckoo
DistributionLocalised
Tail ColourWhite Tail
Keynotes
Seen later in the year
The black notch is black hairs - not the wear and tear sometimes seen in other bees
Workers are small
Looks like a white-tailed bumblebee but has a longer face
White tail often has a peach trim which can be so broad as to resemble a buff tail
Frequently found in Scotland
Nest Information
Underground, they like old rodent nests
Usually 1 cycle per year
Last 2-4 months
Around 80 - 150 workers
Distribution
- Localised
- Frequent in Scotland
- Infrequent in England and Wales
Castes
QUEEN
May
No Photo
Bright yellow collar
Bright yellow abdomen band with black notch in middle
White tail with peach trim
Tail:Buff tail, White Tail
Thorax:Yellow Collar
Abdomen:Mid Band / Buff Tail, Mid Band / White Tail
Head:Black Head
WORKER
June
No Photo
Bright yellow collar
Bright yellow abdomen band with black notch in middle
White tail often with peach trim
Tail:Buff tail, White Tail
Thorax:Yellow Collar
Abdomen:Mid Band / Buff Tail, Mid Band / White Tail
Head:Black Head
MALE
August
No Photo
Black fluffy face
Bright yellow collar
Bright yellow abdomen band with black notch in middle
White tail with peach trim
Tail:Buff tail, White Tail
Thorax:Yellow Collar
Abdomen:Mid Band / Buff Tail, Mid Band / White Tail
Head:Black Head
Flower Preferences
Found in moorlands, heathlands and grasslands
- Bird's-foot-trefoils
- Brambles
- Campanula species
- Clover
- Comfrey
- Harebell
- Heather
- Knapweed
- Melilots
- Raspberry
- Rosebay willowherb
- Devil's-bit scabious
- White dead-nettle
Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Bramble
Rubus fruticosus
Buddleia
Buddleja davidii