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TranslateBombus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) commonly known Buff-tailed Bumblebee.
Length: Queen 20 to 22mm Males 14 to 16mm Worker 11 to 17mm
Family: Apidae
Season: Queens appear as early as late February, workers from April, males and new queens appear from May. Mainly in the south a late third generation can be active throughout the winter months.
A widespread Bumblebee and one of the commonest species found in Europe. This species is very versatile regarding temperatures and is one of the main species used in greenhouse pollination. Because of this it has been introduced to many worldwide countries where it has not originated from.
The queen is monandrous (meaning she mates with only one male) The workers are very efficient in foraging, as they soon learn flower colours.
The workers very rarely travel more than a few hundred yards from the nest.
Nests are usually underground, sometimes taking advantage of abandoned rodent dens. The queen lays egg cells on top of one another each containing several eggs. Colonies averaging between 300 to 400 bees, with a large variation in the number of workers.
Also the workers will lay eggs late in the season and these eggs being unfertilised will become drones (male bees). The drones will leave the nest soon after reaching adulthood, mating is their sole role, when they leave the nest; they will not return.
Habitat… many and variable habitats you will see this bee, although it does favour wooded areas and waste areas with plenty of brambles growing. Also, commonly found in gardens and brownfield sites.
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. Well into October, the workers can be seen foraging on Ivy. In the winter months relying heavily on Oregon-grape and winter flowering honeysuckles.
This is a pollen storing species.
Read MoreLength: Queen 20 to 22mm Males 14 to 16mm Worker 11 to 17mm
Family: Apidae
Season: Queens appear as early as late February, workers from April, males and new queens appear from May. Mainly in the south a late third generation can be active throughout the winter months.
A widespread Bumblebee and one of the commonest species found in Europe. This species is very versatile regarding temperatures and is one of the main species used in greenhouse pollination. Because of this it has been introduced to many worldwide countries where it has not originated from.
The queen is monandrous (meaning she mates with only one male) The workers are very efficient in foraging, as they soon learn flower colours.
The workers very rarely travel more than a few hundred yards from the nest.
Nests are usually underground, sometimes taking advantage of abandoned rodent dens. The queen lays egg cells on top of one another each containing several eggs. Colonies averaging between 300 to 400 bees, with a large variation in the number of workers.
Also the workers will lay eggs late in the season and these eggs being unfertilised will become drones (male bees). The drones will leave the nest soon after reaching adulthood, mating is their sole role, when they leave the nest; they will not return.
Habitat… many and variable habitats you will see this bee, although it does favour wooded areas and waste areas with plenty of brambles growing. Also, commonly found in gardens and brownfield sites.
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. Well into October, the workers can be seen foraging on Ivy. In the winter months relying heavily on Oregon-grape and winter flowering honeysuckles.
This is a pollen storing species.
