Bombus barbutellus
Bumble Bees are known to everyone and the various species' make up one of the most familiar group of insects. Whilst some bees are solitary, Bumble Bees are social insects, forming small colonies during the Spring and Summer months. After pairing in the late Summer/Autumn, only the young Queens survive through the Winter to start new colonies the following Spring. But there is a seemingly increasing trend for new colonies to be started by some species, later the same Autumn after pairing and if conditions are favourable.

Bombus barbutellus seems an uncommon species in Nottinghamshire. This Queen was photographed in an open grassy area of Sherwood Forest CP in April 2010. ID was suspected as being B. jonellus at the time, but later confirmation that this was actually the Cuckoo Bee Bombus barbutellus, came during early 2011.

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UK distribution of Bombus barbutellus
 

The UK distribution maps on eakringbirds.com are provided by the National Biodiversity Network (NBN Gateway) Each red square on the map indicates species present in 10km grid squares.

Updated September 2011

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