Early bumblebee

How to recognise it

A small, neat bumblebee with a yellow collar, a variable yellow band on the abdomen and an orange-red tail that is duller and shorter than the red-tailed bumblebee's. Males have distinctly yellow facial hair.

• Small — noticeably smaller than most other bumblebees, and the queens are barely bigger than other species' workers.
• Orange-red tail that is duller and covers less of the abdomen than the red-tailed bumblebee's.
• Flying very early, and largely finished by July when other species peak.
• Frequently nests above ground in bird boxes, roof spaces and tit nests.

Body length 9–17 mm (typically 12 mm).

Biology

Social organisation

Eusocial, colony dies each autumn

A true colony with a queen and workers, but only for one season: everyone dies in autumn except mated new queens, who overwinter alone. Bumblebees.

Colony size at peak

40–120 individuals

Colony lifespan

A short season — often complete by July, and sometimes followed by a second generation in the same year.

Winter

Mated new queens overwinter alone; in some years a second generation of queens is produced and hibernates late.

Castes

Queen, Workers, Males, New queens

Nesting

Existing cavities and tubes; Burrows in the ground

Uses cavities both above and below ground — bird boxes, old tit and squirrel nests, roof spaces, compost heaps and rodent burrows. Colonies are small and short-lived.

Carries pollen

Corbicula (pollen basket) on the hind leg

On the wing

February to August

Lifecycle

1. 1Very early emergenceQueens emerge from February in mild years, well ahead of most bumblebees, and found colonies immediately.February to April.
2. 2Rapid colony cycleA small colony develops fast and produces males and new queens by June.
3. 3Possible second generationIn warm years and mild regions some new queens found a second colony rather than hibernating, giving two generations in one season — unusual among bumblebees.

Where it lives and what it does

Habitat

Gardens, woodland, hedgerow, moorland and upland — it goes higher and further north than most bumblebees.

Distribution

Across Europe and into Asia, and one of the most widespread bumblebees at altitude and latitude.

Behaviour

Fast, small and busy. Its early cycle means it exploits the spring blossom peak fully and then disappears, which is an entirely different strategy from the long slow build of the carder bee.

Pollination role

An important early-season pollinator of fruit blossom and soft fruit, flying in cool conditions when honey bees are still clustered. Its value is concentrated in spring rather than spread across the year.

High on spring blossom and soft fruit, and negligible after midsummer because it has finished.

What it forages on

A short-tongued generalist favouring spring blossom, currants, raspberry and bramble.

Honey

Keeps only a few days of stores

A few days' worth in wax pots.

Relationship with people

How people interact with it

One of the bumblebees most likely to take a bird box, alongside the tree bumblebee, which makes it a common and harmless garden encounter.

Conservation

Widespread and stable, and one of the more adaptable species.