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.