In Ireland this species is a rare lookalike of the commoner Bombus lapidarius. The key identification feature in queens and workers is the presence of red hairs lining the pollen baskets on the hindleg. Males typically have a dull greyish-yellow collar and a faint greyish band across the abdomen, although these are sometimes absent. It is a rare and much declined bee in Ireland, likely due to the loss of viable habitat. Consequently it is classed as Vulnerable, although it would likely qualify as a higher threat category is it were reassessed today.

Distribution in Ireland: Formerly fairly widespread, but nowadays it is almost entirely restricted to western coastal sites.

Flight Period: April-September. Workers appear in May or June, with Males emerging in July.

Habitat: Machair, coastal meadows, unimproved pasture, calcareous grassland.

Flowers visited: Emergent queens visit Bird’s-foot trefoil, Kidney Vetch and clovers. Workers will also visit these flowers in addition to Common Knapweed, Ragwort, Devil’s-bit Scabious and various thistles. Males also visit Devil’s-bit Scabious, Common Knapweed, Ragwort and thistles.

Personal Records: A rare species that I have only recorded at one site in Ireland; Sheskinmore (Co. Donegal). Here I have observed workers in late summer foraging on Spear Thistle, Common Knapweed and Ragwort, primarily in the open, flower-rich areas to the south and west of Sheskinmore Lough. Habitats with extensive areas of wildflowers are a necessity, particularly Asteraceae (daisy family) and Fabaceae (pea family) , which seem to be favoured. It is one of the hosts of the Red-tailed Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus rupestris). Its population in Ireland has severely declined, largely as a result of the loss of species-rich grasslands. It is still frequent in other parts of Europe, such as the alpine valleys near Cogne, NW Italy where I encountered workers and males frequently above the treeline visiting various thistles and knapweeds.