Basic Information
Common name: Southern cuckoo bee
Scientific name: Bombus vestalis
One yellow band, yellow trim to white tail.
Quite common in south of England
Classification
Bee TypeBumblebee
StatusLess Common
Cuckoo StatusCuckoo
DistributionWidespread
Tail ColourWhite Tail
Keynotes
• Similar to Barbut's cuckoo bee but Southern cuckoo has yellow side trim to the white tail
Nest Information
• Uses buff-tailed bumblebee nests
Distribution
- Less common than host bee
- Quite common especially in south of England
Castes
MALE
SeptemberNo Diagram
No Photo
Dark yellow collar
Faint yellow rear band
White tail with yellow side trim
Tail:White Tail
Thorax:Yellow Collar
FEMALE
MayNo Diagram
No Photo
Dark yellow collar
White tail with yellow side trim
Round hairy legs - no pollen baskets
Tail:White Tail
Thorax:Yellow Collar
Flower Preferences
Likes hedgerows.
- Blackberry
- Blackthorn
- Cherry
- Dandelion
- Garden flowers
- Knapweed
- Lavender
- Wallflowers
- White clover
- Wildflower meadows