Bombus lucorum (Linnaeus, 1761)
Commonly known as The “White-tailed Bumble bee”,
Family: Apidae.
Flight Season. (One of the earliest bumble bees) Queen on the wing from March, usually seen flying close to the ground searching for a suitable nesting site, probably the queen will be seen to have pollen loads on her hindlegs, ready to create a colony.
Workers from April, males appear in late May as do “new” queens.
The White-tailed Bumble bee is a common bee, throughout most of Europe. (especially the more northern countries) As far north as Iceland! (probably introduced by humans). Can also be seen in the Palearctic, (including Japan),
Bombus lucorum is one of the larger bumblebees: Queen 18 to 22mm (length) with a wingspan of around 36mm. The workers are very similar in appearance to a queen, but smaller and vary in length 12 to 18mm. Males 16 to 18mm (length) they differ and vary in markings, by having more yellow hairs, as well as a yellow nose. Males do vary in colouration in different locations by being darker in the northern countries.
Habitat: In most habitats, Bombus lucorum will be seen almost anywhere foraging for nectar from flowers; in farmlands, meadows, heathlands, woodland edges and urban gardens and parks. it is not so common in up-land areas and along the United Kingdoms exposed western coastlines.
This species has a short proboscis, because of this, the workers on occasions will make a hole through a narrow and deep flower, by using their sharp sided tongues to get at the nectar. By using this method, the worker bee will avoid contact with the pollen, while getting the nectar.
Nests are mainly constructed underground, sometimes the queen will take advantage of an old mouse or mole nest. They prefer to have nests with entrances facing south or near south as possible, for extra warmth in the UK as well as the more northern countries, in Europe.
The queen will make a circular chamber to construct a wax egg cell, within this she lays her first batch of eggs. A layer of pollen will support the newly laid eggs, she will cover these eggs again with a wax layer, for added protection.
An established nest can contain up to 400 workers.
Flowers visited. Flowers visited… The early queen bee visits sallows and a variety of spring-flowering plants and shrubs. Queens, workers and males all visit a wide variety of prunus (flowering fruit trees and shrub blossoms) earlier in the year. Then throughout the summer months, a wide variety of summer flowers are on the menu; brambles, thistles, Teasel, Buddleia and garden lavenders being some of their favourites. Workers will nectar-rob comfreys, honeysuckles and certain legumes, by the technique mentioned previously.
The old queen will die late in Autumn, so do the males and most if not all the workers. The new queens will hibernate to start the colony cycle again the next spring.
Bombus bohemicus is a species of cuckoo bees that invades The White-tailed Bumble-bees nest, to lay her eggs. So, this species is often found foraging for food with B. lucorum.
Below are images of the Queen, male and worker B. lucorum.