Bombus ruderatus male black form

[JRsbugs]

Hello.

I think it has to be B. ruderatus? I also had a very big 'normal' queen which had to be ruderatus, it was around 25mm long.

29th June feeding on Linaria purpurea.

[Matt Smith]

Bombus hortorum also produces melanic and semi-melanic males, I would not like to say which species this is from just a photo.

[JRsbugs]

The Bumblebees book says B. ruderatus dark forms "occur frequently" where B. hortorum dark forms "occur infrequently".

The beard is black on B. hortorum and reddish on B. ruderatus. This one has an obvious orangey beard, and I doubt it's pollen.

I have plenty of photos of a queen which visited Delphiniums several times while they were in flower, it was big and fat, too big to be B. hortorum. I'll put those on here later. It was around an inch long which is obvious by the size of it on the Delphinium flowers which are big.

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

The Bumblebees book says B. ruderatus dark forms "occur frequently" where B. hortorum dark forms "occur infrequently".

The beard is black on B. hortorum and reddish on B. ruderatus. This one has an obvious orangey beard, and I doubt it's pollen.

I have plenty of photos of a queen which visited Delphiniums several times while they were in flower, it was big and fat, too big to be B. hortorum. I'll put those on here later. It was around an inch long which is obvious by the size of it on the Delphinium flowers which are big.

My book also says that 'all black specimens' are more likely to be B. ruderatus

Nige

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by htcdude

My book also says that 'all black specimens' are more likely to be B. ruderatus

Nige

Is your book titled "Bumblebees" by Prys-Jones and Corbet?

I uploaded some pics of a queen which I wouldn't have said was even 1mm less than 25mm, you can see how big she is!

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

Is your book titled "Bumblebees" by Prys-Jones and Corbet?

No I have 'Field Guide to the Bumblebees of Great Britain and Ireland' by Mike Edwards & Martin Jenner

Nige