Bombus campestris (Panzer,1801)
Synonyms
Psithyrus varius (LEPELETIER, 1832); Psithyrus flavus (PEREZ, 1884); Psithyrus flavothoracicus (HOFFER 1889); Psithyrus susterai (TKALCU, 1959); Psithyrus susterianus (TKALCU, 1977)
Synonymy from Paul Williams http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/bombus/ps.html#campestris
Description and notes
Keys and general biology are found in Sladen (1912), Free & Butler (1959), Alford (1975) and Prŷs-Jones & Corbet (1991). Until recently this species was known as Psithyrus campestris, but Psithyrus has now been reduced to a subgenus within Bombus. A very variable species, colours ranging from forms which are all-black to those where the black is broken by two yellow stripes on the thorax and a yellowish tail. This is a cuckoo-bumblebee which is well-known to usurp the nests of Bombus pascuorum and has been recorded in nests of B. humilis as well. It is likely that it will attack all the carder bumblebees (B. humilis, B. muscorum, B. pascuorum, B. ruderarius and B. sylvarum).
Distribution
This species is distributed widely throughout almost the entire area covered by this Atlas. It is not currently recorded in the far north of the Highland Region of Scotland. It is widespread and often common in Europe; middle and northern latitudes of Asia, eastwards to Kamchatka (Løken, 1973).
Status (in Britain only)
The bee is not regarded as being scarce or threatened.
Habitat
This cuckoo-bee occurs in a wide variety of habitats.
Flight period
Over-wintered females can be found from late April onwards, males and new females in July to September.
Pollen collected
As this bee is parasitic it does not collect pollen, although females eat pollen in order to develop their ovaries. Foraging for pollen for the nest is carried out by the host workers.
Flowers visited
Visits are made to a very wide variety of flowers.
Parasites
None specifically recorded in Britain or Ireland.
Year profile last updated
Profile written:
Proofed: March 2012