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Brown-banded carder bee

Bombus humilis

Basic Information

Common name: Brown-banded carder bee
Scientific name: Bombus humilis

Fluffy ginger bee with brown band.

Likes flower-rich meadows.

Classification

Bee TypeBumblebee
StatusRare
Cuckoo StatusNon-cuckoo
Tail ColourGinger Tail

Keynotes

• Blonde hair under wings • Black hairs at wing base

Nest Information

• On ground surface • Covers nest with dead grass and moss • Usually 1 cycle per year • Last 3 - 4 months • Fewer than 100 workers

Distribution

  • Rare
  • Mainly found on the coast of south of England and Wales

Castes

QUEEN

May
QUEEN diagram
No Photo
All ginger Brown abdominal band

WORKER

June
WORKER diagram
No Photo
All ginger Brown abdominal band

MALE

August
MALE diagram
No Photo
All ginger Brown abdominal band

Flower Preferences

  • Bird's-foot trefoils
  • Red clover
  • Vetches
  • White dead nettles