Barbut’s cuckoo bee
Bombus barbutellus
Two yellow bands, grey white tail, dark wings.
Female
Yellow collar
Thinner yellow rear band
Grey-white tail
Round hairy legs - no pollen basket
April
Male
Yellow collar
Thinner yellow rear band
Grey-white tail
TBC
- Short hair and visible chitin
- Males have loner hair than females
Barbut’s cuckoo bee
Bombus barbutellus
Mostly found in central and south England.
Likes native wildflowers
- Wild flowers
- Garden flowers
Crocus
Lavendar
Thistle
Nest
- Uses nests of Garden and Ruderal bumblebees
Distribution
- Less common than host bee
- Widespread in south and central England
- Scarce in north England
- Rare in Wales and Scotland