Taxonomy
Bombus (Bombus) terrestris
Pre 2017
2017 - 2020
Status
Conservation status
Least concern
Species Biology
Identification
- Queens have a buff or off-white tail, one orange/yellow band on the thorax, and another orange/yellow band on the abdomen
- Males have a white tail, one orange/yellow band on the thorax, and another orange/yellow band on the abdomen. They are distinguished from B. lucorum males by the black hairs on their face (in B. lucorum they are yellow)
- Bombus terrestris queens and males can be distinguished from Bombus lucorum, but the research has shown that the workers of B. terrestris and B. lucorum cannot be reliably separated by sight. Workers of either should be recorded as B. lucorum agg. (aggregate)
Habitat
Common and found in a wide range of habitats, including parks and gardens.
Flight period
January-December
Nesting biology
Nests underground in cavities
Flowers visited
Polylectic - Ballota, Trifolium, Lamium, Vicia, Centaurea, Corydalis, Digitalis, Laburnum, Salix, Rubus, Prunus, Malus, Lavandula
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.