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Common carder bumblebee

Bombus pascuorum

Basic Information

Common name: Common carder bumblebee
Scientific name: Bombus pascuorum

Fluffy, ginger bee.

Can be seen flying around later in the year.

Classification

Bee TypeBumblebee
StatusCommon
Cuckoo StatusNon-cuckoo
DistributionWidespread
Tail ColourGinger Tail

Keynotes

• Fluffy and ginger - patterns vary. • Can be quite dark. • Found in wide range of habitats including gardens, parks, meadows.

Nest Information

• On the ground. • In tall grass, under hedges, along woodland edges. • Make nest from moss and grass. • Lasts up to 6 months. • Around 100 - 150 workers.

Distribution

  • Common
  • Widespread

Castes

QUEEN

March
QUEEN diagram
No Photo
All ginger Variable amounts of black abdominal hair
Tail:Ginger/Yellow tail
Thorax:All Ginger
Abdomen:All Yellow/Ginger
Head:Ginger Head

WORKER

April
WORKER diagram
No Photo
All ginger Variable amounts of black abdominal hair
Tail:Ginger/Yellow tail
Thorax:All Ginger
Abdomen:All Yellow/Ginger
Head:Ginger Head

MALE

June
MALE diagram
No Photo
All ginger Variable amounts of black abdominal hair
Tail:Ginger/Yellow tail
Thorax:All Ginger
Abdomen:All Yellow/Ginger
Head:Ginger Head

Flower Preferences

Likes trumpet-shaped flowers.

  • Clover
  • Figworts
  • Foxgloves
  • Thistles
  • Vetches
  • Viper's bugloss