Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)

OTHER NAMES: Common Carder Bumblebee

Latin Etymology: Bombus ("buzz") pascuorum ("of the pasture")

Adult Common Carder Bee (subspecies B. p. flavidus) at Geddington, Northants - August 2011

Featured Subspecies: Bombus pascuorum flavidus
Length: 13mm (worker) 15-18mm (queen)
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The common carder bee is a widespread species of bumblebee found in Europe.    They feed on a wide selection of plants including clovers, thistles, nettles, fruit trees and various others.  They live colonially in nests which rise up to 60-150 bees, which die back after each year, leaving only the newly hatched females to survive to the next year.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
SUBSPECIES: B. p. flavidus, B. p. floralis, B. p. septentrionalis, B. p. vulgo

 - Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident seen in Summer.

 - Seen at Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)

OTHER NAMES: New Garden Bumblebee
Latin Etymology: Bombus ("buzzing") hypnorum (?)

Adult Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) at Geddington, Northants - June 2018

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 11mm  /  Wingspan: ?
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Tree Bumblebee is a widely ranging species found across continental Eurasia, that is currently expanding it's range - it was first sighted in the UK in 2001, and has now spread across the country and is a fairly common species.  What's more, it's range is increasing still, also establishing itself in Iceland.  They often nest near human settlements, as buildings provide the kind of nesting cavities they like.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
SUBSPECIES: unclear

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A resident currently expanding it's range.

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)

OTHER NAMES: Small Garden Bumblebee
Latin Etymology: Bombus ("buzzing") hortorum ("garden")

Adult Garden Bumblebee (subspecies B. h. hortorum) at Geddington, Northants - April 2018

Featured Subspecies: Bombus hortorum hortorum
Weight: ?  /  Length: 19-22mm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A common and widespread species of bumblebee found across the UK, it is identified by it's white tail, long face and yellow section that crosses from abdomen to thorax.  This is very similar to Bombus ruderatus, the Large Garden Bumblebee, and are apparently very difficult to separate in the field, but as this is the commoner species of the two, I have gone with this for now.  It is globally widely spread, covering Europe into Asia, with introduced populations in Florida and New Zealand. 

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
SUBSPECIES: B. h. hortorum, B. h. ivernicus, others?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident.

 - Seen at Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

OTHER NAMES: Large Earth Bumblebee

Latin Etymology: Bombus ("buzz") terrestris ("of the earth")

Adult Buff-tailed Bumblebee (subspecies B. t. audax) at Geddington Chase, Northants - June 2011

Featured Subspecies: Bombus terrestris audax
Length: 20-22mm  /  Wingspan: 22-34mm
NOT EVALUATED IN UK / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Buff-tailed Bumble-bee is one of the most common species of Bee in the UK - and thus probably one of the most widely seen insects.  It can be identified from similar insects by the exact combination of colour rings, taking particular note in this case of the yellow that fringes the white tip of the tail.  In my garden this species seems to mostly prefer lavender and buddleiah

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
Subspecies: B. t. africanus, B. t. audax, B. t. calabricus, B. t. canariensis, B. t. dalmatinus, B. t. lusitanicus, B. t. sassaricus, B. t. terrestris, B. t. xanthopus

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington and numerous other locations

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

OTHER NAMES: Stone Bumble Bee

Latin Etymology: Bombus ("buzz") lapidarius ("of the crags")

Adult Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) at Geddington Chase, Northants - July 2010

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 11-22mm  /  Wingspan: 18mm
NOT EVALUATED IN UK / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

One of the most common species of Bumblebee in both Britain and Europe, it is fairly distinctive although there are a few similar species in its range.  They nest in rocks and walls, and their preferred flower plants are clover and deadnettle, but thistle, buddleia and lavender also seem to be common plants to find them on.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
Subspecies: Unknown

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington and numerous other locations

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Bombus ("buzzing") lucorum ("clean")

Adult White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) at Geddington, Northants - June 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 0.46-0.7g  /  Length: 11-20mm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The White-tailed Bumblebee is a widely distributed species which is found from Spring through to Autumn.  They are identifiable by the clean white rump, and the broad yellow bands found on some individuals.  Unfortunately, it is believed to be declining.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly widespread resident.

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .