Bumblebees; Common Carder bee, Forest cuckoo bee and more

male Forest Cuckoo bee, Bombus sylvestris

 In Spring, bumblebee queens emerge from hibernation, build a nest and raise their workers.
Now, at his time of year, in addition to workers, they produce males and new queens for a second generation.  Below is a male Common Carder bee, Bombus pascuorum on Yellow Rattle in my Cuckfield garden in West Sussex yesterday.  Whilst above is a male Forest Cuckoo bee, Bombus sylvestris, which is parasitic on mainly Early bumblebees (see below).

male Common Carder bee, Bombus pascuorum on Yellow Rattle

Buff-tailed bumblebee male, Bombus terrestris

Buff-tailed bumblebee worker, Bombus terrestris

Buff-tailed bumblebee worker, Bombus terrestris

Early Bumblebee worker, Bombus pratorum

Should you know anyone interested in illustrated talks on wild bees, please see my website at http://www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk/page15.html