DSC_5253 Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) queen. This introduced bumblebee is found in the lower North Island and down through much of the South Island, except for north Canterbury and the West Coast. It prefers the cooler, wetter districts. This species is distinguished by its bright lemon-yellow bands, long head and longer tongue (almost the length of its body), for use in deep-flowered plants. It is often seen flying between flowers with its tongue still extended. This species is typically found near road verges, shingle river margins, improved pasture and in non-native scrub. Otago Peninsula *
DSC_5268 Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) queen using long tongue to take nectar from creeping comfrey flower (Symphytum grandiflorum) in early spring. This introduced bumblebee is found in the lower North Island and down through much of the South Island, except for north Canterbury and the West Coast. It prefers the cooler, wetter districts. Bumblebee tongue length differs from species to species, which is why four species of Bombus were introduced from England in 1885 and 1906 for the pollination and seed production of red clover. This species is distinguished by its longer tongue (almost the length of its body), for use in deep-flowered plants like comfrey. It is often seen flying between flowers with its tomgue still extended. This species is typically found near road verges, shingle river margins, improved pasture and in non-native scrub. Otago Peninsula *
DSC_7820 Short-haired bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus latreillellus) a freshly emerged queen on red clover (Trifolium pratense). 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. Twizel, Mackenzie Country *
