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Ruderal bumblebee

Bombus ruderatus

Basic Information

Common name: Ruderal bumblebee
Scientific name: Bombus ruderatus

A big velvety bee with three neat yellow bands.

Mainly in central to south England. Not found in Scotland.

Classification

Bee TypeBumblebee
StatusRare
Cuckoo StatusNon-cuckoo
DistributionLocalised
Tail ColourWhite Tail

Keynotes

*Has an all black form - an all black bee is often a Ruderal

*White tail can sometimes have yellow hue

  • Looks like a neat Garden bumblebee but bands are equal in width

  • Also called the 'Large garden bumblebee'

Nest Information

  • Underground; likes old rodent nests

  • Usually 1 nest cycle per year

  • Lasts 3-4 months

  • Medium: around 150 workers

Distribution

  • Rare and localised to south of England, Lincolnshire and Midlands

  • Occasionally seen in Wales

  • Not currently found in Scotland

  • Habitat: likes farmland, open wild flower meadows and margins, river valleys and brownfield habitats

  • Occasionally seen in woodland and urban spaces

Castes

QUEEN

April
No Diagram
No Photo

  1. Black face

  2. Collar & rear band*

  3. Yellow front band*

  4. White tail*

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

QUEEN

No Diagram
No Photo

  1. Black face

  2. Collar & rear band*

  3. Yellow front band*

  4. White tail*

Tail:Black Tail
Thorax:All Black
Abdomen:All Black
Head:Black Head

WORKER

No Diagram
No Photo

  1. Black face

  2. Collar & rear band*

  3. Yellow front band*

  4. White tail*

Tail:Black Tail
Thorax:All Black
Abdomen:All Black
Head:Black Head

WORKER

May
No Diagram
No Photo

  1. Black face

  2. Collar & rear band*

  3. Yellow front band*

  4. White tail*

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

MALE

No Diagram
No Photo

  1. Black face

  2. Collar & rear band*

  3. Yellow front band*

  4. White tail*

Tail:Black Tail
Thorax:All Black
Abdomen:All Black
Head:Black Head

MALE

June
No Diagram
No Photo

  1. Black face

  2. Collar & rear band*

  3. Yellow front band*

  4. White tail*

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

Flower Preferences

Very long tongue. Loves red clover.

  • Bear's britches

  • Bird's-foot-trefoils

  • Borage

  • Knapweeds

  • Teasel

  • Thistles

  • Vetches

  • Viper's bugloss

  • Woundwort

🌼

Comfrey

🌼

Red clover

🌼

White dead-nettles