| Bombus
bohemicus is one of the Cuckoo Bees, so called
because of their habit of finding a nest of their host
species and infiltrating it. Cuckoo Bees have no worker
caste, only males (Drones) in late Summer/Autumn and
females (Queens) Only the young Bombus bohemicus
Queens over-winter and emerge later than their hosts the
following Spring, to take over a nest of Bombus
lucorum. The existing Bombus lucorum Queen
is usually killed and the Bombus bohemicus Queen
takes over the colony and produces her own eggs, which
the Bombus lucorum workers tend, till new males
and females emerge during the Summer months. This is a
common species, but identification is made very difficult
with Bombus vestalis. |
