Bombus bohemicus antennae

[JRsbugs]

Hi,

I often think I have Bombus bohemicus is my garden, there's usually some which look quite different to B. vestalis, having very little yellow at the top edges of the white tail. These also have a silvery body colour showing through the white tail hairs.

I know one way to tell the difference is by the male antennae, I think it was the difference between the 3rd & 5th antennal segments but I can't remember what the difference was.

Can anyone enlighten me please, I have a good close up of an antenna which shows the segments well. The 3rd segment is very short compared to the 5th.

These were taken on 5th September, it seems to be late in the year when I see these, usually feeding on Dahlia flowers.

Janet

[eucera]

with males only:

A3=A5 in B. bohemicus

A3<<A5 in B. vestalis

In much of England. B. vestalis outnumbers B. bohemicus by a huge amount. I have never seen B. bohemicus down here in Wilts.

[JRsbugs]

Thanks Stuart, I have a very obvious B. vestalis then!