Black bee?

[jezlee]

Hello all – can anyone have a stab at identifying this all-black bee for me? I don't think I have ever see an all-black bee before. Apologies for the quality of pic - not one of my best! A reasonable-sized bee as well, not like a small red-tail without the tail ...

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Jez,

I find the females (all-black with red tails) can be quite big, depending on species - certainly this sort of size compared to a Thistle-head. Maybe wear has removed the redness, but of course you saw it and I didn't so you're in the best position to say about jizz.

I'm wondering about Bombus rupestris as I can't see a widened area on the leg accomodating a pollen-basket, but I don't know if the angle precludes determination of that.

An expert should help soon!

Take care,

Jason

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

I'm wondering about Bombus rupestris as I can't see a widened area on the leg accomodating a pollen-basket, but I don't know if the angle precludes determination of that.

I was thinking along these lines, a male. They can be quite variable, although ive never seen one like this.

[Jason Green]

Glad to hear it! I recalled your comments RE my enquiry thread about it being a Cuckoo.

[JRsbugs]

It is a male, you can count 13 antennal segments.

Now try to choose which species! I see three we have, ruderatus, hotorum and humils but B. subterraneus is being reintroduced. Clicking on the species name will give notes. The area you are in is also an indication where a species is likely to be present.

BUMBLE BEES

List of Bristish bumblebess

[jezlee]

Thanks for your input, guys - as so often happens, I had only just seen it, managed to fire off a pic and then it was off into the great beyond ... so my only recollections are of a large-ish, female sized bee ... and all-black ...

Thanks also, Janet, for your input ... the bee was actually photographed on Sunday in the Forest of Dean, in Gloucestershire.

[jezlee]

Bombus sylvestris, possibly, In its dark form?

[eucera]

I would suspect B. campestris. Black morphs of the male are quite common. The only other species in which black morphs are regularly found is B. ruderatus.

I am not sure we can resolve this one without extra information.

[jezlee]

Originally Posted by eucera

I would suspect B. campestris. Black morphs of the male are quite common. The only other species in which black morphs are regularly found is B. ruderatus.

I am not sure we can resolve this one without extra information.

Thanks, eucera - I knew from that photo alone it was probably a lost cause trying to identify it with any certainty.