Bees Respond to the Spring Sunshine.

Spring was in the air today albeit briefly and at my local copse quite a few queen bumblebees were on the move.Among the several Buff and White-tailed bumbles seen flying around was this Early Bumblebee.It is my first sighting of the year of this attractive bumblebee.She was very interested in the moss which covered a tree stump.

Gypsy Cuckoo Bumblebee.

The Gypsy Cuckoo Bumblebee Bombus bohemicus, parasites the nest of the White-tailed Bumblebee.It is  widespread in the UK but tends to be more common in the north.

BWARS states that; After emerging from hibernation during April the mated female seeks out  a B. lucorum nest containing a few workers.The female enters the nest and hides until it acquires the nest scent.It then kills or dominates the host queen and begins to lay eggs.Only B. bohemicus male and female eggs are hatched although all work in the colony is done by the host workers. 

White-tailed Bumblebee.

Today I came across  several male White-tailed Bumblebees feeding on giant thistles in my local copse.

The White-tailed Bumblebee,Bombus lucorum,is a common and widespread species.The hibernating queens emerge in the spring and start a colony by laying a few eggs.These hatch into workers and later in the season the males and new females appear.Once mated the prospective queens will hibernate over the winter while the males die, together with the old queens in the autumn

The male can be identified by the yellow hair on the head and extra tufts on yellow hair on the thorax and abdomen.

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A Popular Spot.

I have found that my garden fence is a very popular place for bumblebees and indeed other insects to sun themselves.It faces towards the morning sun so is a good spot to warm up.

Today several bumblebees were making use of it including Red-tailed and a Buff or White-tailed worker.