HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Aculeata > APOIDEA > Apidae

Bombus lucorum is a common bumblebee both locally here in the south and across Ireland, but with somewhat doubtful status elsewhere due to potential confusion with two other very similar species, Bombus cryptarum and Bombus magnus. The former is only known from upland areas and, whilst the latter is primarily a northern species, it has been recorded a few times in places such as the New Forest.

The queens have a bright orangey-yellow collar, a broad yellow band across the second abdominal tergite and a pure white tail. They cannot be reliably separated from the two previously mentioned species without DNA analysis and, consequently, are now regarded as an aggregate or species complex. However, for my personal records, it's pretty safe to assume that any white-tailed bumblebee I see locally will be Bombus lucorum. In the New Forest, it could be questionable and, unless I could clearly see a wider collar extending down well below the tegula, which would suggest Bombus magnus, I would be more cautious. Workers resemble small queens. They cannot be distinguished from Bombus magnum, and could be confused with Bombus terrestris, so care is needed. Males have extensively yellow- haired heads and a broader yellow collar, which gives them a different appearance, but they always have a pure white tail.

Queens can appear from March, and workers from April, followed by males and any new queens from late May. They visit a wide variety of spring-blossoming shrubs and flowers, and can be found in a wide variety of habitats in both urban and arable locations. Nesting typically occurs underground in old rodent burrows where colonies can be large with over 200 workers.

Footnote: looking at these photos afresh, I'm given to think that they may have been incorrectly identified as there's a hint of a thin beige-coloured transitional band between the otherwise pure white tail and the black hairs of the adjacent tergite. Are they actually Bombus terrestris workers? Clearly, I need more experience and photos in order to decide but, in the meantime, I've left the photos here for reference.