Great Yellow Bumblebee
Bombus distinguendus
Once present in much of the UK, this is one of our most declined bumblebees. Now confined to the far north of Scotland and a few areas of western Ireland. In these cooler locations, it does not usually emerge from hibernation before late May.
Appearance
Queens, workers and males are quite unique in appearance, being almost completely mustard-yellow, apart from a black band where the wings are attached to the thorax.
Queens are large and have short, velvety hair, while workers and males have longer, sparser hairs.
About the bee
– mustard-yellow body
– black between wings
Size
– Queen: 18mm
– Worker: 12mm
– Male: 14mm
Tongue length
Long
Nest
Uses a variety of locations, usually underground, or on the surface in dense vegetation.
Colony size
Small (typically fewer than 50 workers).
Map and flight periods
Similar species
None