Taxonomy

Bombus (Pyrobombus) pratorum | Early Bumble Bee

Pre 2017

2017 - 2020

Status

Conservation status

Least concern

Species Biology

Identification

  • Red tail at the tip of the abdomen
  • Females have a yellow band at the top of the thorax and another yellow band on the abdomen. The yellow abdomen band can sometimes be missing
  • Males have a yellow band at the top of the thorax and another yellow band on the abdomen. They also have yellow hairs on their face
  • B. pratorum is the smallest of the Irish bumblebees

Habitat

Common and found in a wide range of habitats, including parks and gardens.

Flight period

February-October

Nesting biology

Nests underground as well as in aerial cavities, including bird boxes

Flowers visited

Polylectic - Lamium, Trifolium, Ballota, Ribes, Aquilegia, Lupinus, Chelidonium, Castanea, Rubus, Solanum

Distribution

World distribution(GBIF)

Palaearctic region, Arctic border

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