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Short-haired bumblebee

Bombus subterraneus

Basic Information

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

Very short hair, 'bald patch' on thorax - looks like a buzz cut gone wrong!

Currently extinct in UK.

Classification

Bee TypeBumblebee
StatusExtinct
Cuckoo StatusNon-cuckoo
DistributionNot Applicable
Tail ColourBuff

Keynotes

• Reintroduction to the south of England in 2010's seems not successful • 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 • One cycle per year • Though to have lasted 3-4 months • Around 75-150 workers

Distribution

  • Thought to be extinct in the UK
  • Used to be a species of south-east England
  • Occasionally seen further north and in Wales
  • Found on wetlands and flowery, open meadows and grasslands

Castes

QUEEN

May
No Diagram
No Photo
Yellow collar Yellow rear band Pale abdomen bands White tail sometimes with faint yellow trim
Tail:White Tail
Thorax:Yellow collar and rear band
Abdomen:Black / Buff Tail, Mid Band / Buff Tail
Head:Black Head

WORKER

May
No Diagram
No Photo
Yellow collar Yellow rear band Pale abdomen bands White tail sometimes with 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
Yellow collar Yellow rear band Yellow mid band Big, buff 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

Liked legumes

  • Bird's-foot trefoil
  • Bramble
  • Comfrey
  • Honeysuckle
  • Red clover
  • Teasel
  • Vetches
  • Viper's bugloss
  • White dead-nettles