Year of bumblebees – common bumblebees with two yellow bands
Bubmlebees introduced by Eha Kruus
Photos Riho Marja, Evelii Viik
Translation: Liis
Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris ssp. terrestris)
White-tailed bubmlebee Maakimalane Bombus lucorum
Buff-tailed bumblebee; Large earth bumblebee Karukimalane Bombus terrestris ssp. terrestris
The white-tailed bumblebee and the buff-tailed bumblebee are two of the earliest and most frequently encountered bumblebees in Estonia. They tolerate closeness of humans well. Unfortunately they are also confusingly similar.
A female buff-tailed bumblebee is one of the largest bumblebees in Estonia, growing up to a length of 20-22 mm.
The tip of the buff-tailed bumblebee’s abdomen is whitish, but occasionally we can see a narrow yellowish-brown line on the border between the black and white areas.
The light bands of the buff-tailed bumblebee are duller than those of the white-tailed bumblebee.
The hairs on the buff-tailed bumblebee’s thorax are shorter and the yellow collar is darker and narrower, sometimes only barely visible.
A female white-tailed bumblebee is a little smaller, up to 20 mm long.
Fresh specimens are eye-catching with their bright yellow bands and the pure white abdomen tip.
White-tailed bumblebees are more common.
Comparatively short mandibles make both species prefer opened flowers but they can also chew a hole in the base of the corolla, to ”steal” nectar by it.
White-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)
In addition two more species occur that are very similar to the white-tailed bumblebee, so called cryptic species:
They will be introduced a little later.
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