Tree Bumblebee

The queen Tree Bumblebees have made their appearance right on cue, said to be one of the first  Bumblebees to be seen in early spring, although in truth I believe the Buff Tailed Bumblebee can probably claim that title especially here in the south of the country.

These Tree Bumblebees are certainly becoming more common around the garden, now I am not sure if this is just a few individuals or many visiting the garden.

They are quite easy to identify with  chestnut brown thorax, black abdomen and white tails, the queens, workers and drones are all of a similar colour,  the queens are probably of a similar size to the Buff tailed Bumblebee, maybe slightly smaller, the drones and workers are quite small with the drones being of a slightly more chunky appearance than the workers.

Unlike the Buff Tailed and White tailed which nest in the ground, these like to find a suitable nesting site above ground, sometimes in old bird nesting boxes,  I am yet to find a nest site.

Tree Bumblebee queen

Always nice to see them visiting the garden, and once again mainly on the flowering blackcurrant
.