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Early bumblebee

Bombus pratorum

Basic Information

Common name: Early bumblebee
Scientific name: Bombus pratorum

Small - two yellow bands and red tail.

Found all over - really like gardens.

Classification

Bee TypeBumblebee
StatusCommon
Cuckoo StatusNon-cuckoo
DistributionWidespread
Tail ColourRed Tail

Keynotes

  • The UK's smallest bumblebee

  • Males are very yellow and fluffy, with yellow faces and red tail

  • Queens sometimes seen in February

  • Like most habitats

  • Widespread and most common British bumblebee

Nest Information

  • Underground, on surface in thick vegetation, bird boxes, tree holes, roof gaps

  • 1 or 2 cycles per year

  • Small: fewer than 100 workers

Distribution

  • Widespread; but not Hebrides or Northern Isles

  • Habitat: especially like gardens, parks, woods, brownfield, scrubland with brambles

Castes

QUEEN

March
QUEEN diagram
No Photo

  1. Black

  2. Collar

  3. Mid-band

  4. Red

Tail:Red Tail
Thorax:Yellow Collar
Abdomen:Front Band / Red Tail
Head:Black Head

WORKER

April
WORKER diagram
No Photo

  1. Black

  2. Collar

  3. Mid-band

  4. Red

Tail:Red Tail
Thorax:Yellow Collar
Abdomen:Front Band / Red Tail, All Black
Head:Black Head

MALE

June
MALE diagram
No Photo

  1. Yellow

  2. Collar, rear sometimes

  3. Mid-band

  4. Red

Tail:Red Tail
Thorax:Yellow Collar
Abdomen:Front Band / Red Tail
Head:Yellow Head

Flower Preferences

Short tongue. Love brambles.

  • Colt's-foot

  • Dandelion

  • Currants

  • Cranesbill

  • Lavender

  • Pulmonaria

  • Pyracantha

  • Snowdrops

  • White clover

🌼

Brambles

🌼

Dead-nettle

🌼

Primulas