Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)

Bees  Apidae 


6 June 2020
3 July 2015

Tree bumblebees (Bombus hypnorum) are fascinating creatures, and to have them nesting in your property is a real treat! The colony will usually be active from spring until late July, when all the bumblebees naturally die off, and the ‘new queens’ leave in search of somewhere to hibernate. Their nests do not cause any structural damage to their surroundings. The best thing you can do is leave them be to carry out their natural lifecycle. 

6 June 2020
Tree bumblebees are fascinating creatures, and to have them nesting in your property is a real treat! The colony will only be active from spring until late July, when all the bumblebees naturally die off, and the ‘new queens’ leave in search of somewhere underground to hibernate. Their nests do not cause any structural damage to their surroundings, and the best thing to do is leave them be to carry out their natural lifecycle.

The Tree bumblebee is a recent addition to the UK’s fauna. Despite this, it will already be familiar to many householders and beekeepers since it can be the cause of phone calls along the lines of – “Help, there’s a bee-swarm in my bird box!”

B. hypnorum has a natural distribution in mainland Europe, through Asia and up to the Arctic Circle. It was first found in the UK in 2001 in Wiltshire. It must have arrived here from mainland Europe, where its natural distribution range has also expanded. In Great Britain it has spread rapidly and it can be very common in late spring to early summer. It is now present throughout most of England and much of Wales. In 2013 it reached southern Scotland and its distribution has since expanded in the Scottish Lowlands and further north. In 2017 it was found for the first time in Ireland. Much of its rapid spread is probably due to its ability to exploit nest place locations inadvertently provided by mankind, such as bird boxes, or in the loft-spaces of buildings.(LINK)


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