White-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus lucorum agg.

Lengths: Queen 19 to 20 mm, worker 11 to 17 mm, male 14 to16 mm. The Queens have a white tip to the abdomen. The species is slightly smaller than Bombus terrestris. In comparison, the yellow hair bands of B. terrestris appear more mustard-yellow whilst those of B. lucorum males are more lemon-yellow. However in workers there is much overlap in both the colour of the yellow bands and the whiteness of the 'tail' such that many cannot be separated.

There are three almost identical species: Bombus lucorum, Bombus magnus, and Bombus cryptarum that cannot be easily differentiated from one another by their appearances and require DNA analysis so these three are treated as an aggregate.

Workers of Buff-tailed Bumblebees and White-tailed Bumblebees can be almost impossible to tell apart. Unless it is a very clear example then record as "White/Buff-tailed Bumblebee Workers - Bombus lucorum/terrestris".

Around flowers.

Queens are amongst the first bees to emerge in spring, males do not usually emerge until about August.

The species has a short tongue for a bumblebee, so tends to forage on flowers with short corollas and daisy-type flowers; however it is sometimes resourceful enough to make a hole through the base of the corolla in other flowers to drink the nectar. They nest in the ground, often in an old mouse or vole nest.

Widespread and fairly common in Britain, however populations are believed to be declining.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.