Bombus Lapidarius ( Linnaeus 1758)
Queen typical length 17mm
male and worker 12mm
Commonly known as the Red-Tailed Bumblebee.
Flight season…. Queens can appear as early as March, workers by May Males and new Queens from June through to October.
Common throughout UK including the Channel Islands.
Habitat …Wide variety of habitats including grasslands, woodlands, hedgerows and also commonly found in gardens.
Main favourite flowers visited…..Thistles, Clover, Brambles, Knapweed, Ragwort, Teasel and Buddleia.
Nesting habits….Generally underground and the colonies can be as large as 300 workers.
The host of the cuckoo bumblebee Bombus Rupestris
Here we have images of the male (with yellow collar) and worker (without yellow collar)