Feature articles

08 August 2024

Your guide to Bumblebees in the UK

PPC116 | Technical

Bumblebee hero

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust was established in 2006 because of serious concerns about the ‘plight of the bumblebee’.

Founded by Professor Dave Goulson, it works across the UK to inspire the public to help our precious wild bumblebees survive and thrive.

They’ve put together a useful guide for identifying those fluffy-bottomed bees buzzing around yours or your customers’ gardens...

BUFF-TAILED BUMBLEBEE
Bombus terrestris

Bumblebee buff tail

COMMON CARDER BEE
Bombus pascuorum

Bumblebee common carder

EARLY BUMBLEBEE
Bombus pratorum

Bumblebee early bumble

RED-TAILED BUMBLEBEE
Bombus lapidarius

Bumblebee red tail

GARDEN BUMBLEBEE
Bombus hortorum

Bumblebee garden bumble

TREE BUMBLEBEE
Bombus hypnorum

Bumblebee tree bumble

WHITE-TAILED BUMBLEBEE
Bombus lucorum

Bumblebee white tail

All images courtesy of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust except tree bumblebee by Gerald Schultz, and white-tailed bumblebee by Pieter Haringsma.

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