Forest cuckoo bee - Bombus sylvestris

Habitat: Gardens, parks, woodland

Size: Queen 15mm, male 14mm

Species account: A small species, this is the cuckoo of the common Bombus pratorum, and is widespread across the UK. Females have a single yellow band on the thorax with a black abdomen and a white tail. Males give the species its alternative common name of four-coloured cuckoo bee, adding a orange-red tip to the tail to the female pattern, as well as a second yellow band at the top of the abdomen. Males also have a habit of holding the tip of the tail curled underneath themselves.

Male