The Buff-tailed Bumblebee is widespread throughout most of the UK though less common in Scotland.
It is large with yellow banding which is less crisp than the yellow banding on the White-tailed Bumblebee B. lucorum. It has a white or buffy tail.
Queens are amongst the first bumblebees to emerge from hibernation and can be seen in February. They build large underground nests with up to 300 workers.
They feed on a wide variety of flowers but, with their short tongues, they often have to "steal" nectar by cutting a hole in the base of the flower.
There is more information on Bumblebee.org.
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