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Short-haired bumblebee

Bombus subterraneus

Basic Information

Common name: Short-haired bumblebee
Scientific name: Bombus subterraneus

Very short hair with 'bald patch' on thorax.

Extinct in UK, reintroduction seems unsuccessful.

Classification

Bee TypeBumblebee
StatusExtinct
Cuckoo StatusNon-cuckoo
DistributionNot Applicable
Tail ColourWhite Tail

Keynotes

  • Reintroduction to the south of England in 2010's seems unsuccessful

  • Long face is rounder than Garden and Ruderal bumblebees

  • Often has two abdomen bands but this can be difficult to see

  • Dark form has a buff tail

Nest Information

  • Underground; liked old rodent nests

  • 1 nest cycle per year

  • Though to have lasted 3-4 months

  • Small - medium: around 75-150 workers

Distribution

  • Thought to be extinct in the UK

  • Used to be a species of south-east England

  • Occasionally was seen further north and in Wales

  • Habitat: previously found on wetlands and flowery, open meadows and grasslands

Castes

QUEEN

May
No Diagram
No Photo

  1. Black face

  2. Collar & rear bands

  3. Pale banding

  4. White tail, faint yellow trim

Tail:White Tail, White with yellow trim
Thorax:Yellow collar and rear band
Abdomen:Black / White Tail, Mid Band / White Tail
Head:Black Head

WORKER

May
No Diagram
No Photo

  1. Black face

  2. Collar & rear bands

  3. Pale banding

  4. White tail, faint yellow trim

Tail:White Tail
Thorax:Yellow collar and rear band
Abdomen:Mid Band / White Tail
Head:Black Head

MALE

June
No Diagram
No Photo

  1. Yellow face

  2. Collar & rear band

  3. All yellow

  4. Yellow tail

Tail:Buff tail, Ginger/Yellow tail
Thorax:Yellow collar and rear band
Abdomen:All buff, All Yellow/Ginger, Mid Band / Buff Tail
Head:Black Head, Yellow Head

Flower Preferences

Long tongue. Likes clover, honeysuckle and viper's bugloss.

  • Bird's-foot trefoil

  • Brambles

  • Comfrey

  • Honeysuckle

  • Red clover

  • Teasel

  • Vetches

  • Viper's bugloss

  • White dead-nettles

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Honeysuckle

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Red clover

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Viper's bugloss