White-tailed Bumble Bee - Bombus lucorum

Lengths: Queen 19 to 20 mm, worker 11 to 17 mm, male 14 to16 mm. The Queens have a white tip to the abdomen. The species is slightly smaller than Bombus terrestris. On comparison it can be seen that the yellow hairs of the males of B. terrestris appear more orangey whilst those of B. lucorum males are more lemon yellow particularly around the face which is noticeably lemon coloured in B. lucorum.

Around flowers.

Queens are amongst the first bees to emerge in spring, males do not usually emerge until about August.

The species has a short tongue for a bumblebee, so tends to forage on flowers with short corollas and daisy-type flowers; however it is sometimes resourceful enough to make a hole through the base of the corolla in other flowers to drink the nectar. They nest in the ground, often in an old mouse or vole nest.

Widespread and fairly common in Britain, however populations are believed to be declining.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.