ID of Bumblebee (1 Viewer)

[Peewit]

hi there

I came across this very large Bumblebee in my garage today

What species is it - it had been suggested by someone it is a Buff Tail Queen due to its size. Is this the correct species?

Thanks in advance. :t::-O

Regards
Kathy
x

 

[Peewit]

Hi there

Slim on the ground in last post.....this 'queen' bumblebee remained stuck in my garage for two hours. So hence the enlarged picture of her.

She had weakened to a point, so I gently managed to entice her onto a spoon, and placed her outside on the lawn in the sun. I looked 10 minutes later and she had gone.

So all was well with her :-O:-O

Regards
Kathy
x

 

[aeshna5]

Agree with queen Bombus terrestris.

 

[Peewit]

Agree with queen Bombus terrestris.

Thank you for your answer.

I see it is the Queen that has the buff rear end and the workers have the white rear end.

Never knew that the Male/females of the species had different colouration :t:

Regards
Kathy

 

[socksitis]

I must read my bumblebee book as I thought/presumed they were solitary bees. Just goes to show - need to read all posts on here

 

[aeshna5]

Thank you for your answer.

I see it is the Queen that has the buff rear end and the workers have the white rear end.

Never knew that the Male/females of the species had different colouration :t:

Regards
Kathy

The workers are females too!

 

[Peewit]

The workers are females too!

Oh right did not know that. :t:

Do not know much about Bees and Bee species. o

Need to read up and understand what they are all about.

I do have a Collins book, Complete Guide to British insects - Michael Chinery, and got it last year. Useful for a beginner like myself

Regards
Kathy
x

 

[socksitis]

Oh right did not know that. :t:

Do not know much about Bees and Bee species. o

Need to read up and understand what they are all about.

I do have a Collins book, Complete Guide to British insects - Michael Chinery, and got it last year. Useful for a beginner like myself

Regards
Kathy
x

I too have that book, brilliant book, also have Field guide to the Bumblebees of GB & I, must read more of it, nice guide to have - but where does one stop on buying books??

 

[Wildwood]

<snip> - but where does one stop on buying books??

In my case probably when I'm 6-feet under.

Incidentally, the buff tail of the queen is a feature of the British form of B. terrestris. On the continent the queen's tails are white same as the workers.

 

[Bird-Nut]

Thank you for your answer.

I see it is the Queen that has the buff rear end and the workers have the white rear end.

Never knew that the Male/females of the species had different colouration :t:

Regards
Kathy

Hi Kathy,

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust have a good website with an ID chart of 6 commonly seen bumblebees seen in gardens and a host of other info which you might find of interest. (I've no connection with the BCT)

http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/bumblebees_id.htm

:t: