Bumblebees of the Outer Hebrides

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White-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lucorum The common carder bee, Bombus pascuorum, Bumblebees of the has been recorded in the islands since 2014 and is now quite widespread making Outer Hebrides differentiation between the two carders bees a new challenge for us. Early in the season the strong orange/red of fresh moss carder bee, B. muscorum, is a good enough indication, but this fades as the season progresses. Northern Colletes Colletes floralis ©Bill Neill The white-tailed bumblebee, Bombus lucorum, is probably an aggregate of three species (B. lucorum, B. cryptarum and B. magnus) which can only be reliably distinguished by examination of their DNA. In 2020 the buff-tailed bumblebee, Bombus terrestris was added to the species list. Queens © R Petley-Jones with buff tails are identifiable; workers are Great Yellow Bumblebee Bombus distinguendis more difficult and can look like other white- © R Petley-Jones tailed bumblebees. Traditional crofting practices help make the Six species of solitary bees have been recorded We are interested in all your records, islands a haven for bumblebees. Rotational in the Outer Hebrides, two Colletes species: particularly of common species which are cropping on the machair grasslands leaves C. floralis and C. succinctus, three Andrena often under recorded. For more information, some ground fallow for two or three years and species: A. tarsata, A. ruficrus and A. clarkella or to submit your records, please visit the either no or very low levels of herbicides or and most recently Lasioglossum albipes, the Outer Hebrides Biological Recording website: insecticides are used. So each year there is an bloomed furrow bee. www.ohbr.org.uk abundance of wildflowers to provide healthy There are one or two beekeepers in the islands forage for the bees throughout the summer. so it is always possible that what you are Despite the rigours of the climate, bumblebee looking at is a honeybee and, beware, some numbers are stable and include both rare hoverflies are excellent bumblebee mimics. species and local varieties not commonly seen elsewhere. Outer Hebrides Biological Recording Great Yellow Bumblebee Garden Bumblebee Heath Bumblebee Bombus distinguendus Bombus hortorum Bombus jonellus A UK biodiversity priority species. Note the yellowish buff band on the abdomen The Outer Hebridean form of this species Locally common on the Uist machairs extends up on to the rear of the thorax does not have a white tail end White-tailed Bumblebee Moss Carder Bee Gipsy Cuckoo Bumblebee Bombus lucorum Bombus muscorum Bombus bohemicus A similar pattern to Garden Bumblebee. The distinctive form found in the Hebrides, Females take over the nests of host species, Look carefully there is a difference when worn can be dificult to identify there are no workers Buff-tailed Bumblebee Common Carder Bee Honey Bee Bombus terrestris Bombus pascuorum Apis species Distinctive buff tail Recorded on the islands since 2014 There are now a number of honey bee keepers Illustrations © Bill Neill and now common in the Outer Hebrides.

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