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Early bumblebee

Bombus pratorum

Two yellow bands and red tail.
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Queen

Yellow collar
Yellow front band
Red tail

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March

Worker

Yellow collar
Yellow front band
Red tail

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April

Male

Yellow fluffy face
Yellow collar
Yellow front band
Red tail

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June
  • The UK’s smallest bumblebee.
  • Queens sometimes seen in February.
  • Males can be quite yellow, have fluffy yellow faces and have red tail.
  • Found all over the place, but especially in gardens, parks, woods, brownfield sites.
Bumblebee
Red Tail
Common
Widespread
Not Applicable
Bumblebee
Red Tail
Common
Widespread
Not Applicable

Early bumblebee

Bombus pratorum

Very small, early emerging bumblebee.
Wild Bees Placeholder

Loves brambles.

  • Blackberries
  • Blackcurrants
  • Borage
  • Bowle’s mauve
  • Flowering currant
  • Geranium
  • Lungwort
  • Muscari
  • Primula
  • Pulmonaria
  • Raspberries
  • Snowdrops
  • Wall flower
  • White clover
  • White dead nettles
crocus Crocus
lavendar Lavendar
thistle Thistle

Nest

  • Underground, in thick vegetation, in bird boxes, tree holes, roof gaps.
  • 1 colony cycle in north, 2 in the South.
  • Can last several months.
  • Usually less that 100 workers.

Distribution

  • Common.
  • Widespread.
  • Not found in the Hebrides or Northern Isles.