Common Carder Bumblebee
Bombus pascuorum
This record describes Bombus pascuorum (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The Common Carder Bumblebee is one of two common bumblebees to have a ginger thorax. The other, the Tree Bumblebee has a white 'tail'. There are other less-common carder bees. Although the abdomen also has ginger bands but the hairless black bands tend to dominate. This species has a fairly long tongue and males can be distinguished from females by their longer antennae. The Tree Bumblebee also has a ginger thorax but is easily distinguished by the white tip to the abdomen. Carder Bumblebees earn this name from their habit of combing material together (carding) to create a covering for the cells containing the larvae. This species usually creates its nestsabove ground, often in grass tussocks, in old mouse runs through grass, in tangles of vegetation or just under the surface of the soil. Colonies vary in size, and can contain up to 200 workers. Only young queens survive the winter; they establish new nests in spring. This species is common and widespread in Britain.
Wikipedia reference for Bombus pascuorum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombus_pascuorum.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Family
- Apidae
- Genus
- Bombus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Found in grassy habitats and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
June to October.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Carder Bumblebees earn this name from their habit of combing material together (carding) to create a covering for the cells containing the larvae. This species usually creates its nestsabove ground, often in grass tussocks, in old mouse runs through grass, in tangles of vegetation or just under the surface of the soil. Colonies vary in size, and can contain up to 200 workers. Only young queens survive the winter; they establish new nests in spring.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species is common and widespread in Britain.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Bombus pascuorum. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Common Carder Bumblebee (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Carder Bumblebee
What is Common Carder Bumblebee?
Common Carder Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
Where is Common Carder Bumblebee found?
Habitat: Found in grassy habitats and gardens.
When is Common Carder Bumblebee active?
Common Carder Bumblebee: seasonal activity - June to October..
What is the life cycle of a Common Carder Bumblebee?
Carder Bumblebees earn this name from their habit of combing material together (carding) to create a covering for the cells containing the larvae. This species usually creates its nestsabove ground, often in grass tussocks, in old mouse runs through grass, in tangles of vegetation or just under the surface of the soil. Colonies vary in size, and can contain up to 200 workers. Only young queens survive the winter; they establish new nests in spring.