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Heath bumblebee

Bombus jonellus

Basic Information

Common name: Heath bumblebee
Scientific name: Bombus jonellus

Small and fluffy. Three bands, white tail.

Mostly in Scotland and south England.

Classification

Bee TypeBumblebee
StatusCommon
Cuckoo StatusNon-cuckoo
DistributionWidespread
Tail ColourWhite Tail

Keynotes

  • Early flying - from February

  • Looks like a small, fluffy Garden bumblebee but with a short, wide face

  • Males have fluffy, yellow faces

  • Often have dark forms, especially queens

  • Often have buff tail in Shetlands and Western Isles

Nest Information

  • Underground (old rodent nests); under thick vegetation; birds nests, tree holes

  • 1 cycle per year, 2 in south

  • Small: about 50 workers

Distribution

  • Across UK but more common in Highlands and English south coast

  • Habitat: heathland, moorland, uplands, highlands and coastal habitats

Castes

QUEEN

February
QUEEN diagram
No Photo

  1. Black

  2. Collar, rear

  3. Front

  4. White - Buff

Tail:Buff tail, White Tail
Thorax:Yellow collar and rear band
Abdomen:Front Band / Buff Tail, Front Band / White Tail
Head:Black Head, Yellow Head

WORKER

March
WORKER diagram
No Photo

  1. Black

  2. Collar, rear

  3. Front

  4. White - Buff

Tail:Buff tail, White Tail
Thorax:Yellow collar and rear band
Abdomen:Front Band / Buff Tail, Front Band / White Tail
Head:Yellow Head

MALE

April
MALE diagram
No Photo

  1. Yellow

  2. Collar, rear

  3. Front

  4. White - Buff

Tail:Buff tail, White Tail
Thorax:Yellow collar and rear band
Abdomen:Front Band / Buff Tail, Front Band / White Tail
Head:Yellow Head

Flower Preferences

Short tongue. Likes knapweed and heather.

  • Brambles

  • Knapweed

  • Legumes

  • Sallows

  • Scabiouses

  • Thistle

  • Thyme

  • Umbellifers

  • Willows

Heather

Heather

Calluna vulgaris

🌼

Ragwort

🌼

Red clover