This is the commonest of three similar red-tailed species in Ireland , although it has declined in recent decades like many other bee species. Queens and females have velvety-black hairs with striking crimson tails and black hairs lining the hindlegs. Males are similar but have red hairs on the hindleg and yellow hairs on the ‘collar’ (front of the thorax) and on the top of the head. The two similar species B. ruderarius and B. rupestris are much rarer with all castes of the former possessing a duller, paler tail and red hingleg hairs whilst the latter has a more slender body shape, a bigger head,  dark smokey wings and lacks pollen baskets. Although it can be seen feeding on ornamental garden flowers, in my experience it seems to prefer native species.

Distribution in Ireland: Widespread and fairly frequent, but has declined and is class as Near Threatened.

Flight Period: March-October. Workers emerge in May and are joined by males in June.

Habitat: Parks and gardens, low intensity farmland, flowery scrub, coastal grassland, machair and brownfield land. It tends to be most frequent in semi-natural grasslands and coastal areas.

Flowers visited: Queens will visit willows, dandelions, vetches and Bird’s-foot Trefoil in spring. Workers will forage on Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Bush Vetch, Red Clover, White Clover, Restharrow, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Cat’s-ear, Ragwort, Common Knapweed, Wild Thyme, thistles, scabiouses and others. Males mostly visit composite flowers (Asteraceae), but share many of the same preferences as the queens and workers.

Personal Records: I have observed this species frequently in coastal areas of Co. Down, at sites such as Castle Ward, Murlough NNR and Killard Point; with the latter site in particular holding impressive numbers of this species. I have also recorded it at Sheskinmore and Lurgrbrack (Co. Donegal), Gyle’s Quay and Baltray (Co. Louth), Cuilleenoolagh (Co. Roscommon), Hillsborough and Lagan Meadows (Co. Down), Navan Fort (Co. Armagh), Brittas Bay (Co. Wicklow), The Raven and Ballytiegue Burrows (Co. Wexford), Tramore and Waterford City (Co. Waterford) and at various locations in the Burren, Co. Clare. In all cases, the species has been observed in relatively open areas with abundant flowers. Queens can be found in April or May foraging on legumes or dandelions, whilst the workers emerge in May and the males in July and visit a wide variety of flowers. It has declined in Ireland in recent decades, in part due to the removal of species-rich grasslands and general habitat destruction. It is one of the host species of the rare Red-tailed Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus rupestris).