Identification - the Shrill carder bee is a social bumblebee (lives in small colonies) with the following characteristics; the thorax (chest) is pale greenish yellow with a central band of black hairs, the abdominal (main body) segments have pale fringes at the rear and the tail is orange - pinkish/ red. The bumblebees are deft fliers and tend to fly amongst open tall grassland at a lower level where forage flowers occur. They produce a distinctive shrill sound, also made to some extent by other carder bees such as Bombus humilis. The colouration is the same for the males, workers and queens. The queens are 18 - 20mm in length, males are 15 - 18 mm in length and workers smaller. It may be confused with worn specimens of other species.
General ecology - The bumblebee occurs later in the season than many other species. Its habitats are flower rich areas with abundant legumes (pea family, especially bird's-foot trefoils), lamiates (deadnettle family, especially Black Horehound and White Deadnettle) and Red Bartsia. In Essex these habitats are usually provided by brown field sites (old derelict industrial areas) and old quarry sites, also rich in flowers. It is only found in a few sites close to the Thames in south Essex - between West Tilbury and Westcliff, with a key population at West Canvey.
Threats include loss of habitat to development and habitat fragmentation (being divided up).
Surveying tips - This species is being surveyed by specialists - please do not send in any records.
Photo copyright Peter Harvey