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Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Not yet photographed by the community

UK's commonest bumblebee; buff tail in queens.

Species Profile

Not Evaluated by IUCN; common and widespread in UK; stable populations, though locally affected by habitat loss and pesticides.

Lifespan: Queens 1–2 years; workers 5–6 weeks; males 4–6 weeks
Size & Weight: Queens 20–22 mm; workers 12–16 mm; males 14–18 mm
Habitat: Gardens, parks, hedgerows, grasslands, and cultivated areas with abundant flowering plants throughout lowland Britain.
UK Distribution: Widespread throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland; resident year-round with population peaks in spring and summer.
Diet: Adults feed on nectar and pollen from a wide range of flowers; larvae fed regurgitated nectar and pollen by workers.
Predators: Robber flies, dragonflies, spiders, shrikes, and occasionally other predatory insects; parasitic flies (Conopidae) and mites are significant threats.
Mating Season: August to October
Breeding: Queens establish colonies of 50–400 individuals in spring; single annual colony cycle; workers emerge after 3–4 weeks of larval development.
Behaviour: Highly social, eusocial insects living in annual colonies with a single fertile queen and sterile female workers. Workers forage during daylight and perform a waggle dance to communicate food sources. Queens hibernate over winter in soil or leaf litter.

Sources and editorial status

The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.

Profile generated 22 June 2026

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Buff-tailed Bumblebee · Field Guide · Things With Wings