Bombus pascuorum (Common carder bee)

Last update: 23 November 2024


Common

Species Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)
Genus BOMBUS (Bumble bees)
Family APIDAE



Ecological role pollinator

Voltinism Univoltine
Activity
janfebmaraprmayjunjulaugsepoctnovdec

Observations
2020-VI-202020-VI-172020-VI-132020-VI-082020-V-312019-VIII-252019-VIII-162019-VIII-142019-VII-172019-VII-142019-VI-232019-VI-222019-VI-212019-VI-142019-VI-072015-IX-26
Months
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Years
201520192020

Nesting strategy Hyper- / endogeic
Nestarchitecture Broodcells



1. DISTRIBUTION

The Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum[Soortenregister] is the most common bumble bee in the Netherlands [Wildebijen.nl] and in the garden. The species is found in all landscape types [Peeters et al. 2012].

2. BEHAVIOUR

2.1. ACTIVITY

The bumble bee is active from half April until the beginning of October [Peeters et al. 2012].

2.2. DEVELOPMENT

The species is univoltine, i.e. produces one generation per year. They nest above and under ground in moss and grass, old mice nests and barns [Wildebijen.nl],[Gokcezade et al. 2010].

A colony consists of about 60-200 individuals [Wildebijen.nl],[Gokcezade et al. 2010].

2.3. FOOD SOURCES

This species is not picky and will fly on almost every flower. This is due to their long tongue, on average 8.9 mm in length [Wildebijen.nl] , with which they can reach to the nectar in every flower type [Peeters et al. 2012].

2. IDENTIFICATION

The species is recognisable by the brown hairs on the thorax [Wildebijen.nl].
The colors are variable and categorized in two subspecies [Peeters et al. 2012]:

  1. B. p. floralis
    • Found in the entire country
    • Variable amount of light colored hairs on underside, thorax sides, face and legs [Peeters et al. 2012]
    • The brown hairs have lighter colored edges [Gokcezade et al. 2010]
    • The abdomen has a brown or light brown tip [Gokcezade et al. 2010]
    • Tergites I – III are light colored [Gokcezade et al. 2010]
    • Sides black [Gokcezade et al. 2010]

  2. B. p. moorselensis
    • Found in the West of the Netherlands
    • Almost no light colored hairs, thorax and last three tergites warm brown colored
    • Tergites I – III are black [Gokcezade et al. 2010]
    • Sides black [Gokcezade et al. 2010]

Below is an overview of colors I’ve found in the garden so far.

B. p. floralis

Orange brown with white

Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum) on Purple toadflax (Linaria purpurea)
Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)

The hairs on the abdomen of this specimen were thinned, and show grey colored tergites. As far as I know tergites are black so I’m not sure why this specimen is different.

Light brown

Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)
Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)

B. p. moorselensis

Orange brown

Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)

4. PARASITIC RELATIONS


Literature

Durrer & Schmid‐Hempel 1995 Durrer, S., & Schmid‐Hempel, P., 1995. Parasites and the regional distribution of bumblebee species. Ecography, 18(2), 114-122.

Gokcezade et al. 2010 Gokcezade, J. F., Gereben-Krenn, B. A., Neumayer, J., & Krenn, H. W., 2010. Feldbestimmungsschlüssel für die Hummeln Österreichs, Deutschlands und der Schweiz (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Biologiezentrum/Oberösterreichische Landesmuseen.

Peeters et al. 2012 Peeters, T.M.J., H. Nieuwenhuijsen, J. Smit, F. van der Meer, I.P. Raemakers, W.R.B. Heitmans, C. van Achterberg, M. Kwak, A.J. Loonstra, J. de Rond, M. Roos & M. Reemer, 2012. De Nederlands bijen (Hymennoptera: Apidae s.l.). - Natuur van Nederland 11, Naturalis Biodiversity Center & European Invertebrate Survey - Nederland, Leiden.

Soortenregister Nederlands Soortenregister

Wildebijen.nl wildebijen.nl, "De Nederlandse bijen en hun relaties, overzicht van in Nederland en Vlaanderen voorkomende solitaire en sociale bijen (Apidea s.l.)"

Citation

Krischan, O.R., 2025. Bombus pascuorum. Kerfdier, www.kerfdier.nl. Accessed on [date month year].



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