Taxonomy

Bombus (Thoracombus) ruderarius | Red-tailed Carder Bee

Distribution

Status

Conservation status

VULNERABLE

Species Biology

Identification

  • Females are jet black with a red tail. Distinguished from the identically banded B. lapidarius females by red hairs on the hind leg (they are black in B. lapidarius)
  • Males have grey brown bands at the collar and base of the throax and a broad grey-brown band on the abdomen
  • Females can be confused with Bombus lapidarius

Habitat

Not common. Associated with flower-rich grasslands.

Flight period

April-September

Nesting biology

Surface nesting

Flowers visited

Polylectic - Lamium, Trifolium, Centaurea, Symphytum, Verbascum, Epilobium, Laburnum, Vicia, Impatiens, Medicago, Rubus, 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