Bombus

BumblebeeID - find British species by colour pattern

6 cuckoo species Six species (subgenus Psithyrus) are cuckoos in the nests of other bumblebees. Most are widespread like their hosts, but less abundant. Other species are: (1) widely distributed and often abundant (2) restricted to few localities in the south (3) restricted to few localities in the northwest (4) extremely rare or extinct within Britain. back to start

female	female	female
male	male	male

Distinguishing similar species:
As a cuckoo bee with no pollen baskets (corbiculae) on the hind legs (see Prys-Jones & Corbet, 1987, 1991) and with this colour pattern and dark wings, B. rupestris females are unmistakable in Britain; males can be distinguished by their genitalia.

'Hill Cuckoo-bee' (Step, 1932) 'Red-tailed cuckoo bee' (BBCT) taxonomy and nomenclature	The least widespread and abundant British cuckoo bee, restricted to the south, often with large females, and emerging late in spring.
Habitat	Breeds in colonies of B. lapidarius, to which it bears a striking resemblance (see Reinig, 1935).
British distribution	England, Wales and Scottish borders, absent from most of Scotland. M. Edwards and E. Philp (in Edwards & Telfer, 2001) conclude that after a period of decline, this species is becoming more abundant. Data from Alford (1980) are mapped on a 10 km grid (left) to show local patchiness and on a 50 km grid (right) to show changes in the regional pattern (dark blue - post 1960; light blue - pre 1960 only):
Worldwide distribution	Europe and Asia, including the eastern Tibetan plateau, to the Pacific. World distribution mapped on an equal-area grid (dark blue - specimens identified by PHW; light blue - literature records; white - expected distribution):

female
male	male	male

Distinguishing similar species:
Unlike B. bohemicus, B. vestalis have (1) short even hair and (2) golden yellow bands. Against other species, males can be distinguished by their genitalia.

'Vestal Cuckoo-bee' (Step, 1932) 'Southern cuckoo bee' (BBCT) taxonomy and nomenclature	Widespread and common in the south, often with large females, and emerging in early spring. Males are often abundant in suburban gardens.
Habitat	Breeds in colonies of B. terrestris.
British distribution	England, Wales, north to the Scottish borders, absent from most of Scotland. Data from Alford (1980) are mapped on a 10 km grid (left) to show local patchiness and on a 50 km grid (right) to show changes in the regional pattern (dark blue - post 1960; light blue - pre 1960 only):
Worldwide distribution	Central and southern Europe, north Africa, east to Iran. World distribution mapped on an equal-area grid (dark blue - specimens identified by PHW; light blue - literature records; white - expected distribution):

Distinguishing similar species:
Unlike B. vestalis, B. bohemicus have (1) long hair and (2) lemon-yellow bands. Against other species, males can be distinguished by their genitalia.

'Gipsy Cuckoo-bee' (Step, 1932) 'Gypsy cuckoo bee' (BBCT) taxonomy and nomenclature	Widespread and common in the north, often with large females, and emerging in early spring.
Habitat	Breeds in colonies of B. lucorum.
British distribution	Throughout Britain, more frequent in the north and rare in the lowlands of the southeast, absent from the Scilly Isles and Shetland. Data from Alford (1980) are mapped on a 10 km grid (left) to show local patchiness and on a 50 km grid (right) to show changes in the regional pattern (dark blue - post 1960; light blue - pre 1960 only):
Worldwide distribution	Europe and Asia, including the Himalaya, to the Pacific. World distribution mapped on an equal-area grid (dark blue - specimens identified by PHW; light blue - literature records; white - expected distribution):

female	female	female
male	male

Distinguishing similar species:
As a cuckoo bee with no pollen baskets (corbiculae) on the hind legs (see Prys-Jones & Corbet, 1987, 1991) and with this colour pattern, B. barbutellus females are unmistakable in Britain; males can be distinguished by their genitalia.

'Barbut's Cuckoo-bee' (Step, 1932) 'Barbut's cuckoo bee' (BBCT) taxonomy and nomenclature	Widespread but often not common, even in the south, of medium body size, emerging in late spring.
Habitat	Breeds in colonies of B. hortorum.
British distribution	Throughout much of Britain, less frequent in the north, except absent from the Scilly Isles and Shetland. Data from Alford (1980) are mapped on a 10 km grid (left) to show local patchiness and on a 50 km grid (right) to show changes in the regional pattern (dark blue - post 1960; light blue - pre 1960 only):
Worldwide distribution	Europe and northern Asia to the Pacific. World distribution mapped on an equal-area grid (dark blue - specimens identified by PHW; light blue - literature records; white - expected distribution):

female (northern pale form)	female (common form)	female (dark form)	female (uncommon dark form)
male (northern pale form)	male (pale form)	male (common form)	male (dark form)	male (uncommon dark form)

The dark form is widespread, but occurring at low frequency, and is more common amongst males. The very pale form occurs in western Scotland.

Distinguishing similar species:
As a cuckoo bee with no pollen baskets (corbiculae) on the hind legs (see Prys-Jones & Corbet, 1987, 1991) and with this colour pattern, B. campestris females are unmistakable in Britain; males can be distinguished by their genitalia.

'Field Cuckoo-bee' (Step, 1932) 'Field cuckoo bee' (BBCT) taxonomy and nomenclature	Widespread and common, of medium body size, emerging in late spring.
Habitat	Breeds in colonies of B. pascuorum.
British distribution	Throughout Britain, except absent from parts of Scotland, the Scilly Isles and Shetland. Data from Alford (1980) are mapped on a 10 km grid (left) to show local patchiness and on a 50 km grid (right) to show changes in the regional pattern (dark blue - post 1960; light blue - pre 1960 only):
Worldwide distribution	Europe and northern Asia to the Pacific. World distribution mapped on an equal-area grid (dark blue - specimens identified by PHW; light blue - literature records; white - expected distribution):

female	female
male	male	male

Distinguishing similar species:
As a cuckoo bee with no pollen baskets (corbiculae) on the hind legs (see Prys-Jones & Corbet, 1987, 1991), with this colour pattern, and with the tip of the abdomen curled underneath to point forwards, B. sylvestris females are unmistakable in Britain; males can be distinguished by their genitalia.

'Four-coloured Cuckoo-bee' (Step, 1932) 'Forest cuckoo bee' (BBCT) taxonomy and nomenclature	Widespread and common, of small body size, emerging in early spring. The males are the first cuckoo males to appear each year.
Habitat	Breeds in colonies of B. pratorum and B. jonellus (see Richards, 1928).
British distribution	Throughout Britain, except absent from parts of Scotland, the Scilly Isles and Shetland. Data from Alford (1980) are mapped on a 10 km grid (left) to show local patchiness and on a 50 km grid (right) to show changes in the regional pattern (dark blue - post 1960; light blue - pre 1960 only):
Worldwide distribution	Europe and northern Asia to the Pacific. World distribution mapped on an equal-area grid (dark blue - specimens identified by PHW; light blue - literature records; white - expected distribution):

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