Bombus soroeensis
Thistle bumblebee (Bombus soroeensis )
The thistle bumblebee (Bombus soroeensis ) is a species in the genus of humble-bees ( Bombus). She is in Germany in the Red List of Threatened Species as " critically endangered " (Category 2 ) were reported.
Features
The animals reach a body length of 15 to 17 mm ( Queen ), 10 to 14 mm ( worker ) or 12 to 14 mm ( drone ). Their wingspan is 28 to 33 mm ( Queen ), about 23 mm ( worker ) or 25 to 28 mm ( drone ). The body of the animals is almost completely black, only on the abdomen end she wears an orange-red hair from the back half of the fourth Tergits and thus sees the stone bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius ) are very similar. From this, it differs in a slight depression rather than a distinct notch in the upper lip ( labrum ). The stone Hummel wears on top of the last abdominal segment a bald spot. The pubescence of the thorax is uneven long, but shorter than that of the similar kind Occasionally, one can observe individuals with a yellow collar on the thorax, and it also happens that the black color has a brown tinge. In Central Europe come next to the thistle bumblebees as described above, also completely black, and those with black, red and white colored abdomen before. In the Pyrenees and in the British Isles you will find black, yellow and white-colored animals. Her head is short, the proboscis as well and reaches a length of 13 to 14mm ( Queen ), 10 to 13 mm ( worker ) or 9 to 11 mm ( drone ). It is the kind with the queens of the meadow (Bombus pratorum ) confused.
Occurrence
The species inhabited the plains Moore and Gentiles, otherwise they are found in mountain areas from 1100 to 2600 meters, especially in forests and bushes. The species is rare anywhere in North Germany it is no longer occurring almost. Queens can be observed on the search for suitable nesting sites from late April to late May, the workers enter from mid- May to end of September. Young queens and drones fly from mid-August to late September.
Way of life
The Big bumblebee forms subterranean nests in abandoned nests of small mammals, with up to 80 to 150 individuals. The species is considered one of the Pollenstorern, which means that in addition to the nectar and pollen is stored in disused brood cells. Among the most important food crops include deadnettles, Bearded Bellflower, Black nettles, Motherwort, red clover, white clover, vetch, Big Eberwurz, Monkshood and bladder campion. Queen and workers fly almost exclusively hopping from grass to blade of grass. The Queen makes a low humming sound.