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Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee (Bombus rupestris) Sparsely widespread in southern UK, it&#039;s been a long time since I&#039;ve come across one of these.<br /> <br /> This Queen was HUGE, but quietly went about her business as seen here: <section class="video"><iframe width="448" height="282" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/jOKYqQXsbio?hd=1&autoplay=0&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></section> Bombus rupestris,Geotagged,Summer,United Kingdom Click/tap to enlarge PromotedSpecies introCountry intro

Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee (Bombus rupestris)

Sparsely widespread in southern UK, it's been a long time since I've come across one of these.

This Queen was HUGE, but quietly went about her business as seen here:

    comments (10)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
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    I'll say it again: I LOVE your videos. They are to the point, clearly captioned, and a joy to watch. Keep up the great work, Philips, and know that it's much appreciated and very valuable. Posted 5 years ago
  2. View Philip Booker's profile
    Philip Booker
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    That's incredibly generous of you.

    Thank you.

    (This isn't a heatwave - It's me blushing. lol)
     Posted 5 years ago
  3. View DebRich's profile
    DebRich
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    What a cool bee! Nice shot too! Posted 5 years ago
  4. View DebRich's profile
    DebRich
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    What a cool bee! Nice shot too! Posted 5 years ago
    1. View Philip Booker's profile
      Philip Booker
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      Thank you.

      I was certainly fascinating to watch up close!       Posted 5 years ago
  6. View Patomarazul's profile
    Patomarazul
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    Hello Philip, I think this is Bombus lapidarius because of the black body with reddish rear end. See here:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombus_lapidarius
    Bombus rupestris has a series of bands of different color.
    See here:
    http://sprimont2018.be/portfolio/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/les-bombus-belges.pdf

    If you agree could you please change your ID here? Thanks!     Posted 3 years ago
  7. View Philip Booker's profile
    Philip Booker
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    Patomarazul

    Thank you for your input.

    In shall certainly investigate firther and return to you as soon as possble!!
     Posted 3 years ago
  8. View Philip Booker's profile
    Philip Booker
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    Patomarazul

    I've now researched further.

    Stephan Falk is one of the UK's leading Entomologists/ecologist and pollinator advisor. If you read through his flickr page on B. rupestris, you'll note therec are a wide variation of markings, including a completely melanistic form of B. ruprestris and one's with black bodies and red abdomen tips.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/albums/72157631607014037/

    I also sought the advice of Matt Smith, a consultant ecologist and Admin of the UK Bees, Wasps and Ants Group Page on Facebook and merely asked "Bombus lapidarius or Bombus rupestris?"

    His answer was B. rupestris.

    For me, the wings are too dark to be B. lapidarius.

    Therefore I'm sticking to the original ID.

    I stress, I welcome your enquiry. Accuracy is more important than my need to be right.

    That's why I took it seriously.

    Please do not hesitate to challenge any ID of mine, if you believe it needs review.

     Posted 3 years ago
    1. View Patomarazul's profile
      Patomarazul
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      That is Ok, if several people have corroborated the ID. thanks for the efforts! Posted 3 years ago
      1. View Philip Booker's profile
        Philip Booker
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        Thank you for a genuine enquiry and for your interest in the post. Posted 3 years ago

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The Hill Cuckoo-Bee

"Bombus rupestris" is a species of cuckoo bumblebee present in most of Europe except Iceland. In the Balkans it is found in montane and alpine habitats northwards from Central Greece. It is also found in Turkey.

Info 2 1
Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants
Species identified by Philip Booker
View Philip Booker's profile

By Philip Booker

All rights reserved
Uploaded Aug 11, 2020. Captured Aug 10, 2020 15:26 in 112 Manor Hill, Brighton BN2 5EL, UK.
country flag of United Kingdom Explore United Kingdom 3,303 1,262 0
  • DSC-RX10M4
  • f/4.0
  • 1/500s
  • ISO100
  • 143.15mm
Captured in the summer. More summer photos.