Bombus muscorum
Moss bumblebee (Bombus muscorum )
The moss bumblebee (Bombus muscorum ) is a species of bumble bees ( Bombus). The species is listed in the Red List of endangered species in Germany as endangered ( category 2).
Features
The animals reach a body length of 17 to 19mm ( Queen ), 10 to 16 mm ( worker ) or 13 to 15 mm ( drone ). Their wingspan is 32 to 35 mm ( Queen ), 22 to 30 mm ( worker ) or 26-29 mm ( drone ). The animals are not variable in its bright color. Your chest is yellow orange to reddish brown hairy. It is the kind with the variables (Bombus humilis ) and the field (Bombus pascuorum ) confused, but it lacks black hairs on the thorax and wing approach. The collar and the tag ( scutellum ) are hairy little brighter. The abdomen is yellowish and sometimes carries on the second or third tergite a honey- brown band. The last tergite is black colored and less hairy than in the variable Hummel. Compared to the similar species, however, the hair on the moss Hummel is in general and particularly on the thorax longer, denser and more uniform in length. The head of the Bumblebees is of medium length, the proboscis is long and reaches a length of 13 to 15 mm ( Queen ) or about 9 mm ( drone ).
Occurrence
The species occurs in many parts of Europe, but is very rare. They settled on the plains open, wetlands and marshes and bogs near by lakes and the seashore. Queens to nest Here one can find from the early / mid May to mid June, workers at the end of May / beginning of June to end of September and the young queens and drones from the early / mid August to late September.
Way of life
The moss Hummel nest builders and submit their nests always above ground in clumps of grass or moss, as well as in abandoned nests on trees, in nest boxes or houses on. They reach a population size of 50 to 120 animals. As Pocket Maker they store pollen applied to the brood cells around bags. The Queen can be seen on the humming sound that is similar to the variables Hummel.
Among the most important honey plants belong deadnettles, Zieste, comfrey, thistles, knapweed, heather, red clover, white clover, vetch, Black nettles and Motherwort.