About Bombus lapidarius (Linnaeus, 1758)
Description and identification: The red-tailed bumblebee, Bombus lapidarius, is typically recognized by its black body with red markings around the abdomen. Worker females and the queen have similar appearance, although the queen is much larger than worker females. Males usually have the same red and black coloration, plus an additional yellow band around the abdomen and yellow markings on the face. B. lapidarius has a medium-sized proboscis, a trait that makes this species an effective pollinator. This bee species does not usually form extensive or complex colonies. Nests most often hold at most a few hundred bees, and the average colony contains between 100 and 200 worker bees.
Distribution and habitat: Bombus lapidarius occurs throughout Europe, including Britain and Ireland, and also lives in parts of Greece, Germany, Sweden and Finland. It has a fairly wide distribution, and is typically found in temperate regions. While its nests have been recorded in many different habitats, the bees generally prefer open terrain over more densely forested landscapes. They can fly over 1500 meters to forage for food more effectively.
