Bumblebees of the UK Part 3 with The Biological Recording Company

Learn about the cuckoo bumblebees of the UK and recent bumblebee extinctions with Dr Nikki Gammans.

The UK is home to 24 species of bumblebee, including 6 species of cuckoo bumblebee. These important pollinators are social insects, with fascinating ecology and life cycles.

This presentation will feature the 6 cuckoo bumblebees that occur in the UK. These brood parasites enter the nests of their host species and replace the host queen, with the host workers becoming slaves that nurture the cuckoo bumblebee grubs and feed the cuckoo queen.

At the end of the session, learners should feel more comfortable submitting records of the following species to iRecord:

• Southern Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus vestalis)
• Gypsy Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus bohemicus)
• Forest Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus sylvestris)
• Barbut’s Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus barbutellus)
• Red-tailed Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus rupestris)
• Field Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus campestris)

We’ll then look at the stories behind two species of bumblebee that have gone extinct in the UK over the last century:

• Cullum’s Bumblebee (Bombus cullumanus)
• Short-haired Bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus)

The 90-minute event will consist of a 1-hour presentation followed by a Q&A with the tutor using questions provided by the live audience. The presentation will be recorded be made available following the event to those booked alongside a transcript of the Q&A and useful links.

Book your place via Eventbrite.