Buff-tailed Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris)

Buff-tailed Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris)

Bombus terrestris

Avg Lifespan

Captive specimens of the audax subspecies found to live up to 98 days.

Size

2.0 - 2.2cm

Status

Native, common and widespread.

Surveying Services

Overview

The biggest of the bumblebees, buff-tailed bumblebees of one of the earliest species to emerge around the end of February and are a common site up until September. They have a yellow collar near the head and another on the abdomen; queens have buff-coloured ‘tail’, while the workers have white ‘tails’. 

Found in most habitats including gardens, parks and the wider countryside with a preference for open daisy-like flowers. They nest underground in large groups of up to 600 bees often using old mammal nests. They can also be found nesting in compost heaps and under sheds.

Sampling Advice

  • The fresher the samples are, the better they will be for analysis. Please provide as much sample as possible. Specimens may be frozen or preserved in absolute ethanol to slow the degradation of DNA.
  • Sample types include: whole dead specimens, cocoons, pupa, or meconium (the waste product of the larvae).
  • Samples can be taken using a biological sampling kit or using your own containers/resources.

Surveying Season

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Biological Sample

Specimens can be analysed all-year-round. Most active February - September. In southern parts of the UK this species can also be active during the winter.

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