Red-Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius) lives in temperate grasslands across Europe and Asia. It feeds on nectar and pollen.
Fascinating facts about the Red-Tailed Bumble Bee
- Males of the red-tailed bumblebee mark treetop spots with the pheromones (Z)-9-hexadecenol and hexadecanal, spraying more than other species because wind and sun disperse their scent faster up high. These highly species-specific chemicals act as a lock-out, preventing other bumblebee species from accidentally mating with them.
- Bombus lapidarius workers generate heat by contracting their thoracic flight muscles, a trait that lets them warm the brood and keep the nest temperature stable even on chilly days. This thermoregulation occurs when the colony is active in June, July and August.
- In Ireland the red-tailed bumblebee is listed as Near Threatened, a status driven by loss of its preferred open-terrain and coastal-dune habitats. Protecting those landscapes safeguards a key pollinator that works at higher temperatures than many other Bombus species, supporting crops and wildflowers that depend on its medium-sized proboscis.
- Red-tailed bumblebee colonies stay tiny, most nests hold only a few hundred individuals and the average workforce is just 100 to 200 workers.
- When hunting for nectar, B. lapidarius can fly over 1500 m from its nest, yet most foragers stay within a 500 m ring where they spend the most time.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeEurope and Asia
HabitatTemperate grasslands
DietNectar and pollen
About the Red-Tailed Bumble Bee
As the warm sunlight dances across the vibrant wildflowers, the Red-Tailed Bumble Bee emerges, its sleek, black body and fiery rear end a beacon of industry and purpose. With a gentle hum, it moves through the world, navigating the intricate landscape of petals and stems with an air of quiet confidence, its busy wings a blur as it gathers nectar and pollen with meticulous precision. In its tireless pursuit of sustenance, the Red-Tailed Bumble Bee embodies the very essence of summer, a fleeting yet unforgettable presence that weaves in and out of the tapestry of life.
Hear the Red-Tailed Bumble Bee, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
More insects and spiders to discover
