Taxonomy

Bombus (Psithyrus) vestalis | Vestal Cuckoo Bee

Distribution

Status

Conservation status

Not evaluated - in the 2006 Red List it was impossible to determine with certainty if it was established in Ireland

Species Biology

Identification

  • Cuckoo bumblebee
  • White tail with very distinctive bright yellow flashes where the tail meets the black of the abdomen
  • Females have one orange/yellow band at the top of the thorax
  • Males have two yellow bands on the thorax and a yellow band at the top of the abdomen
  • Can be confused with B. barbutellus, B. sylvestris but particularly B. bohemicus

Preferred environment


Habitat

Had not been recorded since 1926 until it was rediscovered in St Enda's Park, Rathfarmham (Dublin) in 2014. Current habitat associations in Ireland unknown.

Flight period

Flight period in Ireland currently unknown.

Nesting biology

Breeds in nests of B. terrestris

Flowers visited

Polylectic - Carduus, Cirsium, Centaurea

Distribution

World distribution(GBIF)

Palaearctic region

Temporal change

Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024

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References

Publications

Conservation status: FitzPatrick Ú., Murray T.E., Byrne A., Paxton R.J., Brown M.J.F. (2006) Regional Red List of Irish Bees, Publ. Rep. to National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland) and Environment and Heritage Service (N. Ireland). http://www.npws.ie/publications/red-lists

Flowers visited & World distribution: Westrich, P. (1989) Die Wildbienen Baden-Württembergs. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, Germany.

Images