Common carder bumblebee  (Bombus pascuorum)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

The common carder bumblebee is the only common bumblebee to have a completely ginger thorax. Although the abdomen also tends to be gingery, it is more variable in colour, and can be greyish or red (2). The coat tends to be rather scruffy-looking and is short (1). This species has a fairly long tongue and males can be distinguished from females as they have longer antennae(1). Carder bumblebees earn this name from their habit of combing material together (carding) to create a covering for the cells containing the larvae(2). The scientific name pascuorum is derived from the Latin pascuum and means of the pastures (2).

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