Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Beebombs are dedicated to increasing wildflower habitat throughout the UK. 97% of which has been lost since WW2. 

Intensive agriculture, urbanisation and increased use of ever more effective pesticides are causing declines in many of our native pollinators. Beebombs are set on improving this situation, 21 square foot at a time. 

On this blog, we'll be looking at a range of pollinator species and today we are focussing on the beautiful and iconic Buff-Tailed Bumblebee. 

Long Horned Bee (Male) Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey

Common Name: Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Scientific Name: Bombus terrestris

Information:  Fairly well distributed across the UK, although more coastal outside of England, teh Buff-Tailed Bumblebee is often the first species to be spotted in the garden. They are active from February right through to October. 

A large species, it might be the largest that you will spot in your garden with the Queen measuring up to 2cm in length. The workers are a more normal Bumblebee size at around 15mm.

They nest underground, often in abandoned mouse nests with up to 150 workers forming a strong colony.  

Recently the Buff-Tailed Bumblebee has been seen to be active in winter in the southern UK with a warmer climate perhaps suiting this particular species. 

Description: Difficult to tell apart from the common White-Tailed Bumblebee, the Queen is the only one who sports a buff coloured tail. The workers and the males have a white tail making them difficult to tell apart from the White-Tailed Bumblebee when you see one in your garden. 

Look out for the males who are large and do sometimes have yellow in the tail.

Concern Level: Low

Distribution: Throughout England and on coastal areas of Wales and Scotland. 

Female Long Horned Bee
1 pack of Native Wildflower Beebombs
£9.99

1 pack of handmade, native wildflower Beebombs. 1000s of seeds from 18 native wildflower species, mixed with local protective clay and sifted, nurturing top soil. 1 pack provides coverage for roughly 21 sq ft / 2m² of wildflower meadow.

Beebombs are a mix of annuals and perennial species, providing natural and diverse habitat. They’re specially designed to help support your local pollinators and provide a long flowering season, rich in colour and vibrancy.

Using seedballs protects the seeds from predators and provides a nurturing environment for the seeds to germinate from, making it easier for you to create the wildflower habitat Britain needs.

We use no plastic in our packaging or process and make your Beebombs in a truly sustainable and traditional way on our farm in Parley, Dorset.

Free tracked postage and packing on all orders, Dispatched same day (before 12pm) via Royal Mail Tracked 48 service, to anywhere in the UK.
Next day delivery also available.

5 packs of Native Wildflower Beebombs
£29.99

5 packs of handmade, native wildflower Beebombs. 1000s of seeds from 18 native wildflower species, mixed with local protective clay and sifted, nurturing top soil. 5 packs provides coverage for roughly 105 sq ft / 10m² of wildflower meadow.

Beebombs are a mix of annuals and perennial species, providing natural and diverse habitat. They’re specially designed to help support your local pollinators and provide a long flowering season, rich in colour and vibrancy.

Using seedballs protects the seeds from predators and provides a nurturing environment for the seeds to germinate from, making it easier for you to create the wildflower habitat Britain needs.

We use no plastic in our packaging or process and make your Beebombs in a truly sustainable and traditional way on our farm in Parley, Dorset.

Free tracked postage and packing on all orders, Dispatched same day (before 12pm) via Royal Mail Tracked 48 service, to anywhere in the UK.
Next day delivery also available.

10 packs of Native Wildflower Beebombs
£49.99

10 packs of handmade, native wildflower Beebombs. 1000s of seeds from 18 native wildflower species, mixed with local protective clay and sifted, nurturing top soil. 10 packs provides coverage for roughly 210 sq ft, / 20 m² of wildflower meadow

Beebombs are a mix of annuals and perennial species, providing natural and diverse habitat. They’re specially designed to help support your local pollinators and provide a long flowering season, rich in colour and vibrancy.

Using seedballs protects the seeds from predators and provides a nurturing environment for the seeds to germinate from, making it easier for you to create the wildflower habitat Britain needs.

We use no plastic in our packaging or process and make your Beebombs in a truly sustainable and traditional way on our farm in Parley, Dorset.

Free tracked postage and packing on all orders, Dispatched same day (before 12pm) via Royal Mail Tracked 48 service, to anywhere in the UK.
Next day delivery also available.

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Bringing back the wildflower meadows of Britain.