Red Tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius

Conservation status in Norfolk

Five species of bumblebee, which twenty years ago were classed as widespread and common are now endangered. The red-tailed bumblebee remains widespread.

Click to see the Biodiversity Action Plan Species for this species

How to help

Bumblebees like to build nests in redundant mice and shrew holes. These may be found at the base of a hedge or in an area of rough grass. To make an artificial underground nest site, dig a hole, place a ball of moss or dry grass in the bottom and then cover it with a slab or an upside down terracotta plant pot, leaving a small entrance hole.

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Information on the Red Tailed Bumblebee

How to recognise

This bumblebee is the commonest of the red-tailed species. The queens and workers are entirely black with a bright orange-red ‘tail’. The queen is larger then the workers, with some workers being no bigger than a housefly. The males, drones, have yellow hairs on their face and a yellow band on the thorax.

Where to see

The red-tailed bumblebee can be found in a variety of habitats, including gardens, churchyards, such as the Rosary Cemetery in Norwich and parks, for example NT Sheringham Park and NT Felbrigg Hall.

Bumblebee tongues vary in size and the red-tailed bumblebee is a short tongue species, which means it prefers flowers, such as daisies and dandelions, which have a distinct landing platform enabling it more easily to reach the nectar.

It can be found nesting underground at the end of a long tunnel, under large stones or within walls. In the winter, when the queens hibernate, they tend to choose woodland habitats.

When to see

The queen may emerge from hibernation as early as February if the weather is warm. Bumblebees are fun to watch and between May and July it is usually easy to spot worker bumblebees visiting flowers.

Did you know?

Wild bumblebees are essential to the pollination of many crop species.

Finding out more

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust

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