Welcome to the white tailed bumble bee

Posted:

20 April 2011

By:

Mary Hunter

Bombus Lucorum (White tailed bumble bee) has recently arrived in this country. They arrived naturally, not as a result of importation. The Bumble Bee Conservation Trust views them as native and wants to see them preserved and protected.

Typically they nest in bird nest boxes. The bees are distinctive, white tailed bumble bees – the only bumble with a white tail. The nests are also distinctive as there may be a cloud of up to 50 drones hovering at the entrance patrolling and watching out for queens leaving. Drones will be there for hours. There may also be yellow spotting on the front of the nest box; they are the only bumbles that nest in bird boxes.

The preferred action is to leave them alone.

BBCT suggest moving them only when….

• Small children are at risk
• To resolve a major domestic crisis
• Save the colony from major building works
• If causing a major nuisance (e.g. on the side of an often used shed, the vibrations of the shed being used, door being shut and the like will aggravate the bees); Do your utmost NOT to move the colony.