Tree bumblebee nest in Dorset

[tigger]

Very excited today to find a Tree bumblebee nest (Bombus hypnorum) in our workshop roof. Husband reported "humming" coming from the roof - didn't take me long to find out where it was coming from!

Here's a really short video: Bombus hypnorum - Tree bumblebee nest | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Worth looking out for these bees - they are very distinctive. Ginger thorax, black abdomen and white tail. Only saw my first one in Dorset last year - and now my garden is overrun with them From what I know, as well as sheds they also sometimes take over bird boxes.

Cheers

Jane

[eucera]

Excellent news! I shall add this to the database immediately!

[tigger]

Thanks Stuart. Thought you might be interested. Is this one of the first nests in Dorset?

Cheers. Jane

[eucera]

The first nest that I know of - obviously there must be some that we don't know about! (starting to sound worryingly like Donald Rumsfeld)

[tigger]

Thanks Donald

[Harry Eales]

Considering the very short time this species has been in residence in the UK it has certainly spread rapidly. It is known from several records in both Northumberland and Durham over the last four years. I've not been successful in locating it until yesterday morning when I found a large worker nectaring on Thyme in the herb patch in my back garden.

Harry

[aeshna5]

They seem partial to the flowers of the Allium relative Nectaroscordum siculum in my London garden currently as well as lots of B. pratorum also visting these pendulous flowers. B. hypnorum is certainly a very handsome bee.

Stuart (Eucera)- given that many Bombus spp are struggling any theories why this species is being so successful here?

[eucera]

Firstly... thanks for all the data, team! I would love individual records please so I can update the maps accordingly.

As far as spread is concerned - the species is an arch-generalist (habitat and pollen forage), has 2 generations a year and is found as far north as the Kola peninsula. It is just filling the same niche that it fills in the rest of Europe. That being said, there is some evidence that Pyrobombus (in UK B. hypnorum, B. pratorum and B. monticola) are capable of big range expansions. B. pratorum is believed to have arrived in Ireland in the 1940's and B. monticola has invaded Ireland twice, once from Wales into trhe Wicklow mountains, anmd once from Scotland into the Antrim hills

In the US, B. bimaculatus (another Pyrobombus) is also spreading. Its very interesting, and essential that we monitor where we can

[aeshna5]

Thanks Stuart!

[bigab]

They are in my bird box, also in Corfe Mullen.