Red-tailed Bumblebee

Name: Red-tailed Bumblebee

Scientific name: Bombus lapidarius

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 40

What are nature stars?

About:

A very common bumblebee, emerges early in the spring and can be seen feeding on flowers right through to the autumn. Found in gardens, farmland, woodland edges, hedgerows, heathland: anywhere there are flowers to feed on.

Visit the bumblebee's Beast of the Month page to read more fantastic facts!

How to identify: The female is a very large black bumblebee with a big red 'tail'. Males are smaller and have two yellow bands on the thorax and one at the base of the abdomen as well as the red tail. There are two similar species but these are much rarer bees.

Where: Widespread

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 10
• Agility: 60
• Rarity: 30
• Cute factor: 60
• Traveller: 60

Fantastic fact: Bumblebees nest underground, often in old vole nests.

Photograph credit: Photo credit tbc