Bombus Pascuorum (Scopoli 1763)
Known as the Common Carder Bee
Queen typical length 13mm
Male 11mm and worker 10mm
Appearances can differ depending on age or sun-bleached individuals, noticeably the thorax can be ginger or brownish
Flight season…. Queens can appear late March, workers by late April Males and new Queens from late May through to October.
Commonest of our brownish carder bumblebees and most widespread throughout UK including the Channel Islands, only absent from a few offshore Scottish 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, Foxglove and Buddleia.
Nesting habits…. Generally occurs on the surface amongst dense vegetation and under shrubs or hedges; also can be found occasionally above ground in nest boxes or holes in trees. Colony size has a population of between 60-150 workers.
The main host of the cuckoo bumblebee Bombus campestris
Not 100% sure but believe all images below are of the worker