Buff-tailed bumblebee in Polissia
Bombus terrestris
Caution: may sting if pressed; dangerous for people allergic to stings
The buff-tailed bumblebee is a large, furry bumblebee with a black body, two yellow bands – on the thorax and the abdomen – and a white tip to the abdomen. In spring the first to fly are the large overwintered queens, and in summer the smaller workers.
Bumblebees live on meadows, forest edges, in gardens, forest glades and along roads. In Polissia, apart from the buff-tailed bumblebee, several other bumblebee species occur, some of which are rare and listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.
The buff-tailed bumblebee nests underground, often in abandoned rodent burrows. Thanks to their dense hair and their ability to warm their bodies by shivering their muscles, bumblebees fly even on cool days when there are no honeybees yet. They pollinate bilberry, cranberry, clover and many other plants.
The bumblebee is peaceful and stings only if pressed or if its nest is disturbed. Do not dig up nests, and leave a corner of wild flowers in your garden – the bumblebees will repay you with a good harvest.
When to see: March–October
Where it was seen in Polissia
Observations from the open scientific database GBIF since 1990.
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