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Buff-tailed bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Basic Information

Common name: Buff-tailed bumblebee
Scientific name: Bombus terrestris

Thick coat, 2 dark yellow stripes.

Early emerging bee found across UK.

Classification

Bee TypeBumblebee
StatusCommon
Cuckoo StatusNon-cuckoo
DistributionWidespread
Tail ColourWhite Tail

Keynotes

  • Queens have buff tails and are are UK's biggest bumblebees

  • Workers and males have white tails (often with peach trim) and are very similar to White-tailed bumblebees

  • If you see a bumblebee in winter it is most likely a Buff-tailed

Nest Information

  • Holes underground, plant pots, compost heaps, under sheds etc.

  • 1 or 2 cycles per year - now 3 in the South

  • February - October

  • Large: up to 500 workers

Distribution

  • Found all across UK (except mountainous areas)

  • Habitat: most habitats except high uplands, common in gardens

Castes

QUEEN

February
QUEEN diagram
No Photo

  1. Black face

  2. Mustard collar

  3. Mustard mid-band

  4. Buff Tail

Tail:White Tail, Buff tail
Thorax:Yellow Collar
Abdomen:Mid Band / White Tail
Head:Black Head

WORKER

March
WORKER diagram
No Photo

  1. Black face

  2. Yellow collar

  3. Yellow mid-band

  4. White Tail

Tail:White Tail
Thorax:Yellow Collar
Abdomen:Mid Band / White Tail
Head:Black Head

MALE

June
MALE diagram
No Photo

  1. Black face

  2. Yellow collar

  3. Yellow mid-band

  4. White Tail

Tail:White Tail
Thorax:Yellow Collar
Abdomen:Mid Band / White Tail
Head:Black Head

Flower Preferences

Short tongue. Loves lavender and thistles.

  • Bluebells

  • Brambles

  • Crocus

  • Daffodils

  • Heathers

  • Ivy

  • Michaelmas daisies

  • Scabious

  • Willow

Gorse

Gorse

Ulex

Lavender

Lavender

Lavandula

🌼

Mahonia