Early Bumblebee

Taxobox

---

image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Hymenoptera
familia = Apidae
subfamilia = Apinae
genus = "Bombus"
species = "B. pratorum"
binomial = "Bombus pratorum"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1761)

The Early Bumblebee ("Bombus pratorum") is black, with a yellow band around the front of the thorax and red colouration on abdominal segments 4 to 6. The queen is 15 to 17mm, the worker 9 to 14mm and the male 11 to 13mm.

Flight period

Although it flies early - March to July - hence its name, other species such as the Large Earth Bumblebee fly as early as February. [ [http://www.gardensafari.net/english/picpages/bombus_pratorum.htm Picture page about Tortrix Moth Bombus pratorum ] ]

Habitat

Its habitat is very wide ranging, including fields, parks, scrubland, but not in dense forest.

Distribution

It is found all across Europe.

Behaviour

It stores pollen in wax pots or empty cells. Colonies rarely contain more than 120 individuals.

ources

*http://www.bumblebee.org/prat.htm
*frenchtrans|Bombus pratorum|Sep 25, 2007