Or Bombus terrestris to the scientists amongst you, or those that remember your Biology 'O'level!
I've just come in from digging the vegetable plot up with a view to planting some garlic etc... and I had a little company from a big female Buff-Tailed Bumblebee, searching for an underground site for the season's nest.
"Buff-Tails" (as their name suggests) have buff coloured "fur" on their arses, and a darker yellow, more ginger really, thoracic band, than the "White-Tailed Bumblebee", (Bombus lucorum), which has a white bum and a lemony-yellow thoracic band.
Both of these Bombus species are quite common, and along with the Red-Tailed Bumblebee (see other post), make up half of our 6 most common Bumblebee species - these 6 species are really the only ones you are likely to come across.
I do like Bumblebees - garden centres sell Bumblebee nestboxes these days... hmmmm....
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