Gypsy cuckoo bee
Bombus bohemicus
Thinner hair with visible chitin on thorax and abdomen.
Female
Broad yellow collar
Narrow yellow rear band
White tail with yellow side trim
March
Male
Broad yellow collar
Narrow yellow rear band
White tail with yellow side trim
June
- Thin hair that is longer than other cuckoos
- Females larger than males
- Not usually seen after September
Gypsy cuckoo bee
Bombus bohemicus
Darker coloured bees with boxy head shape and dark wings.
- Brambles
- Knapweed
- Teasel
- Thistles
- Umbellifers
Crocus
Lavendar
Thistle
Nest
- Use white-tailed bumblebee nests
- 1 cycle per year
- Use host nests from March to September
Distribution
- Less common
- Widespread
- Found in healthland
- Declining in South and East England