Bilberry bumblebee
(Bombus monticola)
Status – This is a scarce bumblebee which is only found in certain areas or habitats. It is found mostly in the north and west of the UK.
UK distribution map
Bilberry bumblebees are mostly found in upland areas, like moorlands and mountains. This map shows, in dark green, the current known distribution for this species.
References
More detailed information on sources can be found here.
Credit: Jamie Buxton-Gould
Active period
Bilberry bumblebee queens emerge from hibernation from April onwards.
Workers appear roughly six weeks after the nest is established, and new queens and males are produced towards the end of the two to four month nesting period.
This species can be seen up to the end of September.
Description
All three castes (queen, worker and male) are similar, with yellow bands on the front and back of the thorax, a black abdomen and a large red tail which extends over half the abdomen. All castes can have a yellow face but males tend to be brighter, as well as having longer hair.
Bilberry bumblebees nest amongst tussocky grass on the surface of the ground or just below the surface, and have around 50 to 70 workers.
This species has a long tongue and feeds on a range of flowers such as bilberry, heather, white clover, and bird’s foot trefoils.
Similar species and differences
Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) males have much less extensive red tails (less than half the abdomen) and females have no yellow bands.
The Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) has a much smaller tail, usually covering just the tip of the abdomen.
