Queen red tailed bumble bee?

[Janenat]

Hello

I saw this huge bumble bee it was all black apart from it's red tail, so I'm assuming it's the red-tailed bumble bee Bombus Lapidarius? According to the bumblebee conservation trust pdf download it's very common on chalkland, but as I live in a clay area is this common and more to the point I'm surprised to see a queen out at this time of year I thought they'd be busy in their hives? Probably showing my ignorance of bees, but I'd like to know more
Many thanks
Jane
P.S. sorry the pics aren't too good, she didn't want to pose for me!

[faz]

it is a redtailed bee (bombus lapidurius) not sure if its a queen

[Africa]

Hi Janenat,
Yes, from you description and the bulk of the bee it does look like a queen Bombus lapidarius. This is a new queen, which have been around now for a few weeks together with the colourful males and will go into hibernation at some point before the winter.

[Janenat]

Thanks for that, I haven't heard of "colourful males" before, are they born different from ordinary males or do they become by selection?

Jane

[Janenat]

Hello

I decided to go and do some research and found a simple informative site giving the life cycle of the Bumble bee, answered my questions:

http://hercules.users.netlink.co.uk/Bee.html

- Just what I needed!

Jane

[threadspider]

Of course, you do realise that once you get the bumblebee habit, it is very, very addictive? But so much fun.

Judith

[Janenat]

Yes, I've always loved seeing them around, but this site has got me wanting to know more about them rather than taking them for granted. I've got some space in my garden where a couple of bushes didn't survive the winter, so been doing some research into what plants would encourage the bees and butterflies rather than what looks pretty!!

Jane

[paulinemiller10]

The males are pretty Janenat, posting a pic for you, I have been looking after bumblebees for many years, and have now got loads back in my garden, you can read my bumble bee story if your interested, link below.

Bumble Bee Story.

I hav'nt had a lot of the red tailed bumbles visiting this year, so hoping to get more next year. Pauline.

[Janenat]

Hello

Thanks for the pic, I've have seen some of them, wasn't sure what they were, now I know! I did read your story, very inspiring, makes more sense now I know more about their nesting habits. I've seen a queen red-tailed bumble a few times now, would it be the same one or are there a few around from one nest before going off on their own?

Many thanks

Jane

[paulinemiller10]

There would have been quite a few queen bumbles hatch from the same nest Jane, they would feed and support the nest before going their own way, they will all look the same, so without marking your bumble its hard to know, but I think your queen bumble is the same one, I have never seen several queen bumbles feeding together like workers.

Once they have been out of the nest a few days they become a lot more wary, they need to keep safe as they are next years queens, they will be hibernating through the winter and will be starting their own family next Spring, so hopefully your queen bumble will stay around and make her nest near your garden, and you will find her next Spring feeding on your flowers and later the baby red tailed bumbles. Pauline.