Buff-Tailed Bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
The Buff-Tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), also known as the large earth bumblebee, is one of the most abundant and recognizable bumblebee species across Europe. It features a plump, furry black body accented with two deep yellow bands—one across the thorax and another on the abdomen—and a white or buff-colored tail tip. Queens measure 20 to 23 mm in length, while workers range from 11 to 17 mm. As a social insect, Bombus terrestris establishes annual underground colonies—frequently inside abandoned rodent burrows—housing several hundred individuals. Capable of foraging in cool, overcast weather and performing buzz pollination, it is an indispensable pollinator for both wild flora and commercial crops such as tomatoes and berries.