Tree Bumblebee | Hainault Forest

Tree Bumblebee

Bombus hypnorum

A short-tongued species sometimes found visiting bramble flowers. Queens, workers and males are similar in appearance, except Queens are larger. February is the month when Queens start emerging from hibernation to establish nests, then after about six weeks workers appear. Nests contain up to 150 workers. Males are produced towards the end of the nesting period two to three months later. Large groups of males fly near nest entrances waiting for new Queens which they can mate with.