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Buff-tailed bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Thick coat, 2 yellow stripes.
buff tail worker

Queen

  • Yellow Collar
  • Yellow mid-band
  • Buff Tail
White tailed bumblebee
February

Worker

  • Yellow Collar
  • Yellow mid-band
  • White Tail
White tailed bumblebee
March

Male

  • Yellow Collar
  • Yellow mid-band
  • White Tail
White tailed bumblebee
June
  • Queens have buff-tail; but workers and males have white tails.
  • Queen buff-tails are the UK’s biggest bumblebees and emerge in early spring.
Bumblebee
White Tail
Common
Widespread
Not Applicable
Bumblebee
White Tail
Common
Widespread
Not Applicable

Buff-tailed bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Loves lavender and thistles.
buff tail worker

Visits a wide variety of plants including:

  • Bluebells
  • Brambles
  • Buddleia
  • Cotoneaster
  • Crocus
  • Daffodils
  • Devil’s-bit scabious
  • Gorse
  • Heathers
  • Ivy
  • Knapweeds
  • Lavender
  • Michaelmas daisies
  • Prunus species
  • Teasel
  • Thistle
  • White clover
  • Willow
crocus Crocus
lavendar Lavendar
thistle Thistle

Nest

  • Underground, they like old rodent nests
  • Can be large with up to 500 bees
  • Last 3-4 months
  • Usually one or two generations per year
  • Some nests now active over winter with queens foraging in Autumn

Distribution

  • Common
  • Widespread except the high uplands
  • Found in most habitats