The White Tailed Bumblebee

I have a keen interest in studying the wildlife that frequent my garden, particularly when I have the opportunity to observe them for sketching purposes.  One species that has captured my attention is the white-tailed bumblebee.

The white-tailed bumblebee, Bombus Iucorum, is a common and widespread species found throughout Britain.  Its distinctive appearance features a black body adorned with two lemon-yellow bands and a white tail.  There are several other similar species, including the buff-tailed bumblebee and the garden bumblebee, that share a similar appearance.

The white-tailed bumblebee exhibits a diverse habitat preference, thriving in gardens, agricultural landscapes, woodland margins, hedgerows, and heathland.  Its presence is often indicative of abundant floral resources.

Length: up to 2cm
When to See: March to November
Conservation status: Common

About the white-tailed bumblebee

The white-tailed bumblebee is a social insect.  In the spring, queens emerge from hibernation and establish colonies by laying a small number of eggs.  These eggs hatch into worker bees, which tend to the young and maintain the nest.  Later in the season, males emerge and mate with new females, who are potential future queens.

After mating, these new queens gather nectar and pollen to sustain themselves within the nest.  Both the males and the original queen perish in the autumn.  However, the new queens hibernate, often underground, to start the cycle anew the following spring.

How to attract the white tailed bumblebee to your garden

• Plant lots of open single petel flowers (native, non-native, cultivated and wild)
• Plants they like: Salvia, Lavendar, wallflowers, poppies, daisies, dandelions, buddleia
• Don't dig your soil to allow them to build nests underground
• Add shallow dishes of water with pebbles in them which will gives bees a vital drink
• Have large leaf plants where the bee can rest and sunbath