Buff-tailed bumblebee vs White-tailed bumblebee
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a buff-tailed bumblebee from a white-tailed bumblebee, and whether either one bites or stings.
Buff-tailed bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
White-tailed bumblebee
Bombus lucorum
≠The key differences
Very similar; B. lucorum typically has a whiter tail and subtle differences in hair texture and male genitalia. Separation can be difficult in the field and may require expert examination or genetic tests.
B. terrestris queens have a buff-coloured tail, and its yellow bands are a darker, ochre yellow than the lemon yellow of B. lucorum; workers of both can have white tails, so field separation can be unreliable.
⚖︎Side by side
| Buff-tailed bumblebee | White-tailed bumblebee | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Can sting | Painful sting |
| Size | Queen 20-23 mm; worker 12-18 mm; male 14-18 mm | Queen 18-22 mm; worker 10-16 mm; male 12-16 mm (body length) |
| Colours | Black, Bright yellow, Buff (pale tan), White | Black, Bright yellow, White, Brown hairs |
| Family | Apidae | Apidae |
| Habitat | Open countryside, farmland, gardens, hedgerows, forest edges, and urban green spaces; nests in tussocks, old rodent burrows, compost heaps, wall cavities and buildings. | Open habitats, meadows, hedgerows, gardens, woodland edges and upland pastures; nests underground in old rodent burrows or aboveground in cavities or tussocks. |
| Range | Native across much of Europe and parts of western Asia; also introduced to New Zealand, Japan, Tasmania and other regions for pollination services, where it has established in some areas. | Widespread across Europe and much of northern Asia. Not native to the Americas. Exact range and records can be complicated by confusion with close relatives in the Bombus lucorum complex. |
| Active | Active spring to autumn (typical northern hemisphere: March to October), most numerous in late spring and early summer; diurnal (day-active). | Spring to autumn (roughly April-September in temperate Europe); daily activity in daylight, especially on warm, calm days. |
| Pest? | No | No |
🔍How to spot a buff-tailed bumblebee
- Buff or pale white tail combined with a single broad yellow band on the thorax and a second yellow abdominal band.
- Stout, furry body typical of bumblebees (not slender like honeybees).
- Size differences: queens much larger than workers; males may show pale hair on face and longer hairs.
- Geographic context: common in Europe; check local field guides for separation from closely related buff-tailed species.
🔍How to spot a white-tailed bumblebee
- Two bright yellow bands: one across the thorax and one on the first abdominal segment.
- Distinctive white tail (terminal abdominal band) contrasted with black abdomen.
- Robust, densely hairy body; size differences: queens noticeably larger than workers.
- Be aware: several related species share this pattern; definitive ID often needs microscopic or genetic methods.
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a buff-tailed bumblebee and a white-tailed bumblebee?
Very similar; B. lucorum typically has a whiter tail and subtle differences in hair texture and male genitalia. Separation can be difficult in the field and may require expert examination or genetic tests. B. terrestris queens have a buff-coloured tail, and its yellow bands are a darker, ochre yellow than the lemon yellow of B. lucorum; workers of both can have white tails, so field separation can be unreliable.
Is a buff-tailed bumblebee or a white-tailed bumblebee more dangerous?
Buff-tailed bumblebee: Can sting. White-tailed bumblebee: Painful sting. Females (workers and queens) can sting and inject venom, but they are not aggressive and rarely sting unless handled or their nest is disturbed. Bumblebees can sting, and a sting can be painful and produce local swelling.
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.