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buff-tailed bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Description:

The queen is 2–2.7 cm long, while the workers are 1½–2 cm. The latter are characterized by their white-ended abdomens and look (apart from their yellowish bands being darker in direct comparison) just like those of the white-tailed bumblebee, B. lucorum, a close relative. The queens of B. terrestris have the namesake buff-white abdomen ("tail") tip; this area is white like in the workers in B. lucorum. Such bees can navigate their way back to the nest from a distance as far away as 13 kilometres (8.1 mi), although most forage within 5 km from their nest

Notes:

When the autumn cold weather sets in, all but the young queens will die. The latter seek out a safe place to hibernate, they are the only ones to survive the winter.

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PatriciaPi
Spotted by
PatriciaPi

Calpe/Calp, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain

Spotted on Nov 15, 2013
Submitted on Nov 21, 2013

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