Bombus


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BumblebeeID
Find British species by colour pattern

Quick Guide to The Big Six species
six species that are widespread and abundant throughout most of lowland Britain

Click on a bee for more information:
queens and workers above, males below
B. pascuorum female B. lapidarius female B. pratorum female B. terrestris female B. lucorum female B. hortorum female
B. pascuorum male B. lapidarius male B. pratorum male B. terrestris male B. lucorum male B. hortorum male
thorax orange brown
tail orange brown
female unbanded
tail deep red
male with yellow bands
1-2 yellow bands
tail orange
2 golden yellow bands
tail white,
buff at least at base
2 lemon yellow bands
tail pure white
male 2-3 yellow bands
3 yellow bands
tail pure white
pascuorum
Common carder
bumblebee
lapidarius
Red tailed
bumblebee
pratorum
Early nesting
bumblebee
terrestris
Buff tailed
bumblebee
lucorum
White tailed
bumblebee
hortorum
Garden
bumblebee

 

Download a BumblebeeID Quick Guide wallet card (771 Kb PDF)

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Need to know more?
- click here for a colour key to all of the British species

- click here for a colour key to all species world-wide

Please send comments and suggestions to Paul Williams.


alphabetic British list | distribution of British bumblebees | colour patterns | colour diagrams

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