This species is one of Ireland’s commonest and is readily seen in urban areas, such as parks and gardens. Queens are among our largest bees and have a black body with two golden yellow bands and a buff-coloured tailed. Females are similar but are smaller and usually have white tails whilst males have a thoracic yellow band which extends further down the sides of the thorax and more buff colouration in the tail. Workers can be confused with those of the Bombus lucorum complex but generally have more golden-yellow bands, rather than lemon-yellow, but in faded individuals this can be unclear. A subtle fringe of buffish hairs often fringes the white hairs of the tail, which is absent in B. lucorum agg. 

Distribution in Ireland: Widespread and common across the island.

Flight Period: March-October, but queens and sometimes foraging workers can appear on mild winter days, particularly in the south. Male appear in mid-June.

Habitat: A wide variety of habitats including parks, gardens, flowery meadows, scrub, brownfield sites, woodland edges, farmland hedgerows, heath etc.

Flowers visited: A wide range of native and non-native plants.

Personal Records: I have observed this species widely in Ireland. In my experience it is one of the most likely bumblebee species to be encountered in as it can be found in most habitats and is very much a polylectic species, visiting a huge range of flowers. It is perhaps less frequent in upland areas, but even here it can be found occasionally.