DSC_8766 Short-haired bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus latreillellus) recently emerged queen. Mainly found in the drier, colder, inland part of the South Island, this is the rarest of the four bumblebee species introduced into NZ from England in 1885 and 1906. Small numbers remain at a few locations in the central South Island. Sadly, this species became extinct in England 1989, and we now host the last remaining representatives of the genotype of B.subterraneus which once ranged over most of England. Mackenzie Country *
DSC_8529 Short-haired bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus latreillellus) a wild nest located in a disused rabbit burrow, beneath the roots of a large pine tree growing close to the lake shore. This bumblebee species is mainly found in the drier, colder, inland part of the South Island, and is now the rarest of the four bumblebee species introduced into NZ from England in 1885 and 1906. Small numbers remain at a few locations in the central South Island. Sadly, this species became extinct in England 1989, and we now host the last remaining representatives of the genotype of B.subterraneus which once ranged over most of England. Mackenzie Country *
DSC_3196 European wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) male. First recorded on lavender in Dunedin, early December 2018. Wool carder bees derive their name from the females' habit of scraping the fur off some plants which they roll into little balls to line their nests. They were first reported in NZ around the Nelson and Napier areas in 2006 (the same year varoa mite was first reported in NZ). They presumably arrived on ships as early records were from near NZ ports. Otago Peninsula *
