BUMBLEBEE IDENTIFICATION

There are currently 24 species of bumblebee in the UK. The most common and likely to be seen in gardens are buff-tailed, red-tailed, white-tailed, early, garden, common carder and heath bumblebees. Six of these 24 are cuckoo bumblebees, that parasitise other bumblebees. Three of our bee species have become extinct and several more are threatened.

COMMON BUMBLEBEES

Queens are very large and common in early spring. Workers have a white tail with a hint of buff at the front margin. Yellow bands are slightly darker/dirtier than in the white-tailed bumblebee.

Very common on chalk downland and frequent in gardens. It is distinguishable from the much rarewr red-shanked bumblebee by the black hairs of the pollen basket on the hind legs.

Common bumblebee, often nest under garden sheds. Distinguishable from similar buff-tailed bumblebee by pure white tail and lemon-yellow bands.

Small bee that often nests in tit boxes. The yellow band on the abdomen is sometimes missing in females. Colonies are very short-lived, producing males as early as April. Rarely seen from July onwards.

Very long-tongued bumblebee that prefers deep flowers such as Foxgloves, Delphinium and Honeysuckle. Distinguishable from the generally smaller heath bumblebee by a much longer face when viewed from the front.

Common everywhere, being the only common all-brown bumblebee. Distinguishable from the much rarer brown-banded carder bee by the presence of some black hairs on the sides the abdomen.

Small bee, found on mountains, moorland, lowland heaths and sometimes gardens. Short, heart-shaped face distinguishes it from the larger garden bumblebee. Short-tongued, preferring shallow flowers such as Heather and Cotoneaster.





RARE BUMBLEBEES

Found sporadically in south and east England. The queens are among the largest UK bees. Very variable in colour. Pale specimens are very similar to the garden bumblebee but the yellow band on the rear of the thorax is noticeably thicker in the middle. Entirely black bees are not uncommon and intermediates occur in which the yellow bands are reduced, dark in colour or absent. Has a very long tongue.

Only colonised the UK in 2001 Becoming common in gardens in southern England. Prefers to nest in holes in trees, or even bird boxes. Identifiably by its brown thorax, black abdomen and white tail.

Found mainly in southern England. Distinguished from the common carder by the absence of black hairs on siders of the abdomen, and brownish band across abdomen. Rare southerly species which has declined greatly in recent years. Distinguished from the much more common red-tailed bumblebee by the red hairs of pollen basket on hind leg.This bee weaves grass into a thatch for its nest and is a ground dweller, as are all carder bees.


CUCKOO BUMBLEBEES
In the UK there are 6 species of cuckoo bumblebees (3 illustrated). These were once like other bumblebees, but they have switched to a parasitic existence. The females kill or evict the queen and take over her workers as their own, using them to rear their own offspring. If you live in the south of England, males of the southern cuckoo bumblebee can be among the most common bumblebees in July and August.Cuckoo bees hang around outside the nest of the bees they are imitating in order to acquire their scent and make it easier for them to get in without a fight. Cuckoo bees only produce queens or males, hence their need to take over a nest and have the workers tend to their needs. However, if the host bee is rare then so is the cuckoo bee for that species. Cuckoo bees have no pollen baskets - they don't need them. They have fewer hairs on their legs, more chitin on their bodies and a longer sting. Cuckoo bees no longer have pollen baskets as they stopped collecting pollen a long time ago. Their legs are just very hairy. They also have darker wings.

MALE OR FEMALE BUMBLEBEE?
Female bumblebees have a concave area on their legs which is shiny and fringed with hairs (for carrying a big bag of pollen). Females have a pointed tip to the abdomen from which the sting emerges. They are literally busy bees, flitting around.

Males have similar legs but with a few hairs. Males also have distinct long antennae, a rounded tip to their abdomen and sit lazily on flowers and DON'T collect pollen. Male antennae are slightly longer than the female's and curved, female antennae have an elbow in them. If you are close enough to check, the male antennae have 13 segments each, the female 12. As males do not collect pollen, they have no pollen baskets on their legs - the only purpose of the males is to mate and then die. Female hind legs have a hook and are hairier. Males often have a yellow face. They are also identifiable from females as they are often dusted with pollen, whereas the female will dust off the pollen with the hook on her leg.

All photos and info courtesy of Bumblee Conservation Trust