The garden bumblebee, or Bombus terrestris, is a large, stocky bumblebee easily recognised by its black thorax with a broad yellow stripe and its abdomen with a second yellow stripe and a white tip. It is a very common species in Europe, active from the end of winter, forming colonies that can number several hundred individuals. The queen is larger (up to 25 mm) and often builds her nest underground, in former rodent burrows. The slightly smaller workers collect nectar and pollen with their long tongues, helping to pollinate flowers, particularly legumes and vegetables. Their flight is slow and noisy, hence their common name of ‘bumblebee’. Highly resistant to the cold, they are also used commercially for greenhouse pollination.
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