White-tailed Bumblebee | Garden Junkie

Scientific Name: Bombus lucorum

Buff-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus terrestris

Species: Bee

The White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) is a common bumblebee species found throughout the UK. It’s part of a ‘species complex’ known as the “white-tailed bumblebees,” which includes very similar-looking species like the Buff-tailed Bumblebees (which have a browner collar and an orange-tinted tail).

White-tailed Bumblebees like their cousins are essential pollinators, contributing significantly to both wild plant and crop pollination. They’re social insects, living in colonies led by a queen, with workers and males produced later in the season.

Conservation Status:

While not currently considered endangered, the White-tailed Bumblebee faces challenges common to many pollinators. Habitat loss, intensive farming practices, and pesticide use pose threats to their populations. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining diverse habitats, promoting wildflower-rich areas, and encouraging bee-friendly gardening practices to support this and other bumblebee species across the UK.

About:

White-tailed Bumblebees are known for their adaptability and wide foraging range. They play a crucial role in pollinating various plants, including wildflowers and crops. These bees are particularly effective at pollinating plants with deep flowers due to their relatively long tongues. Their ability to forage in cooler temperatures makes them important pollinators in the variable UK climate.

How to Identify:

Identifying White-tailed Bumblebees can be challenging due to their similarity to other species. However, look for a bright white tail, two yellow bands (one on the thorax and one on the abdomen), and an otherwise black body. Queens are larger, while workers are smaller. The facial hair is predominantly black.

Note that these bees can be easily confused with Buff-tailed Bumblebees, as described above and definitive identification often requires expert examination.

Nesting:

White-tailed Bumblebees (Bombus lucorum) typically nest underground, often in abandoned rodent burrows or under dense vegetation. Colonies are relatively small, usually containing between 50 to 120 workers. The queen initiates the nest in spring, laying eggs and caring for the first brood of workers. As the colony grows, workers take over foraging and nest maintenance duties while the queen focuses on egg-laying.

When to See:

In the UK, White-tailed Bumblebees can be seen from early spring through to late autumn. Queens emerge from hibernation in March or April, with workers appearing from May onwards. New queens and males are produced in late summer and early autumn. The colony cycle typically ends by October or November, with only new mated queens surviving to hibernate and start new colonies the following year.

Distribution:

White-tailed Bumblebees are widely distributed across the UK, found in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. They’re particularly common in northern and western areas of Britain. This species is also native to much of northern Europe and can be found in similar habitats across its range. Their distribution may be affected by climate change, potentially expanding northwards in the coming years.

Habitats:

These adaptable bees thrive in a variety of habitats, including gardens, parks, meadows, and woodland edges. They’re often found in both rural and urban areas, wherever suitable flowers for foraging are available. White-tailed Bumblebees are frequent visitors to gardens, allotments, and farmland, where they play a crucial role in pollinating both wild and cultivated plants.

Did You Know Fact:

White-tailed Bumblebees are part of a cryptic species complex, meaning they look almost identical to two other species (B. cryptarum and B. magnus), and can only be reliably distinguished through genetic analysis. They have a relatively long tongue compared to some other bumblebee species, allowing them to access nectar from deep flowers.

Interestingly, White-tailed Bumblebees are known to occasionally nest above ground, in bird boxes or roof spaces, showing their adaptability to urban environments.