Basic Information
Common name: Southern cuckoo bee
Scientific name: Bombus vestalis
Dark-yellow band, yellow tail trim.
England, coastal Wales - scarce elsewhere.
Classification
Bee TypeBumblebee
StatusLess Common
Cuckoo StatusCuckoo
DistributionWidespread
Tail ColourWhite Tail
Keynotes
Resembles Gypsy cuckoo bee but neater with gingery collar (when new)
Has rear band, but this is faint
Males often have faint front-band on abdomen
No pollen baskets
Wings are darker than social bumblebees
Nest Information
Uses nests of Buff-tailed bumblebees
1 cycle per year
Numbers unknown
Distribution
Common in England, rare elsewhere
Habitat: urban green spaces, gardens, open habitats, wildflower meadows, hedgerows, woods, heaths
Castes
MALE
May
No Photo
Black, boxy
Collar, rear - faint
Front - faint
White, yellow trim
Tail:White Tail, White with yellow trim
Thorax:Yellow Collar, Yellow collar and rear band
Abdomen:Front Band / White Tail, Black / White Tail
Head:Black Head, Boxy
FEMALE
March
No Photo
Black, boxy
Collar, rear - faint
Black
White, yellow trim
Tail:White Tail, White with yellow trim
Thorax:Yellow Collar, Yellow collar and rear band
Abdomen:Black / White Tail
Head:Black Head, Boxy
Flower Preferences
Short tongue. Likes lavenders and chives.
Blackthorn
Cherry
Clover
Ground ivy
Hebes
Wallflowers
🌼
Chives
Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
Lavender
Lavandula