Bombus lapidarius
Stone bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius )
The stone bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius ) is a species of bumble bees ( Bombus). They were elected in 2005 to the insect of the year.
Features
Stone bumblebees reach a body length of 12-16 millimeters ( worker ), 14 to 16 millimeters ( drone ) or 20-22 millimeters ( Queen ). They are mostly black, the end of the abdomen is brownish red. Male Stone bumblebees have a yellow band on the chest. Their nests they create under rock piles or walls, to which the name refers. However, you may also be located in the straw of stables or in abandoned bird nests. An average state consists of about 100 to 200 workers. Stone bumblebees prefer the nectar of various clovers and deadnettles.
Protection
In Central Europe the stone Hummel indeed among the most common and best known species of bumblebee, but there are some rarer species that are similar to her in appearance. The assumption of "Bumblebee dying " by the nectar of exotic plants, such as the silver linden (Tilia tomentosa) has been shown to be wrong.