Invertebrates
White-tailed Bumblebee
Bombus lucorum
On a patch of purple thistle, a white-tailed bumblebee works the flower heads, its pure white tail flicking behind it as it moves.
Overview
The white-tailed bumblebee, Bombus lucorum, is a black, yellow-banded bumblebee with a white tail that is common across Europe and northern Asia. Its resemblance to close relatives makes it one of the most challenging bumblebees to identify with certainty.
A bee that is hard to tell apart
White-tailed and buff-tailed bumblebees are so similar that the bumblebee species are often grouped together, and specialists use DNA or microscopes to be sure which is which.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
White-tailed Bumblebee: common questions
How can you tell a white-tailed from a buff-tailed bumblebee?
It is often almost impossible in the field, as the two look very similar, and the group is often separated only by DNA or microscopic features.
Why does it bite holes in flowers?
It has a short tongue, so it sometimes bites through the base of deep flowers to take nectar, a habit called nectar robbing.
Where does it nest?
It nests in holes in the ground, often in old rodent burrows or under tree roots.
Where is the white-tailed bumblebee found?
It lives in gardens, meadows, heaths, and mountains across Europe and northern Asia.