Buff-tailed bumblebee

Spot these giants of the bumblebee world during springtime. They can be seen buzzing from flower to flower, getting their pollen fix.

Scientific name

Bombus terrestris

When to see

Mainly February to October

Species information

Category

Statistics

Length: 2.0-2.2cm

Conservation status

Common.

About

Buff-tailed bumblebees are one of our biggest bumblebees, as well as one of the first to emerge in early spring. They are named after the buff-coloured tail of their queen, as the worker bees have almost white tails, which makes them easy to mistake for white-tailed bumblebees! They love all types of flowers but especially open, daisy-like flowers, where they can more easily reach the nectar with their short tongues. They nest underground in large groups of up to 600 bees, often using old mammal nests. In some parts of southern England, buff-tailed bumblebees can remain active through winter.

How to identify

The buff-tailed bumblebee has a yellow collar near the head and another on the abdomen. The queen has a buff-coloured 'tail', while the workers have a white 'tail' with a faint buff line separating it from the rest of the abdomen. Males have a buff-tinged tail and also have black hair on their faces.

Distribution

Found in lowland areas throughout the UK.

Did you know?

Buff-tailed bumblebees are known as ‘nectar robbers’: if they come across a flower that is too deep for their tongue, they bite a hole at its base and suck out the nectar. Afterward, other insects looking for nectar will also use this handy hole.