Deb's Web

Bombus humilis/muscorum (Common/Brown-banded Carder Bee)

Above: in flight in my back garden, Gosport, Hampshire, UK, 21st July 2006.

Below: as above - on Lavender flower.
image: A Carder Bee (Bombus humilis or ?muscorum), close up of above, garden in Gosport, Hampshire, UK, 21 July 2006

The top photograph was a truly lucky shot. I originally thought this was B. pascuorum, but doubts were raised when 2 people suggested it was not that species (too pale), and that it could perhaps be B. humilis. After catching a similar-looking queen in my garden this year (2009) which matched the description of B. muscorum (no black hairs - on the abdomen or the thorax); I am now left wondering whether this photograph is of B. humilis or B. muscorum!

There was often one, and occasionally two of these in the garden at any given time.

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