Common carder bee vs Garden bumblebee
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a common carder bee from a garden bumblebee, and whether either one bites or stings.
Common carder bee
Bombus pascuorum
Garden bumblebee
Bombus hortorum
≠The key differences
B. pascuorum has a more ginger/brown pile and lacks the clear three-band yellow pattern typical of B. hortorum.
⚖︎Side by side
| Common carder bee | Garden bumblebee | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Can sting | Can sting |
| Size | Workers 8-15 mm; males 10-16 mm; queens 15-18 mm (body length) | Workers and males 12-18 mm body length; queens 18-22 mm |
| Colours | Ginger-brown, Pale buff, Black, Yellow (minor markings) | Black, Pale yellow, White, Golden brown (pile on some individuals) |
| Family | Apidae | Apidae |
| Habitat | Gardens, meadows, hedgerows, woodland edges, parks and farmland; nests in grass tussocks, compost heaps, under sheds or shallow soil cavities. | Gardens, meadows, hedgerows, woodland edges and other flower-rich habitats; nests in cavities at or just below ground level (old mouse nests, compost heaps, tussocks). |
| Range | Widespread across Europe and parts of western Asia; common in the British Isles and continental Europe. | Native across Europe and temperate Asia; introduced to New Zealand. Common in garden-rich landscapes and countryside. |
| Active | Spring to autumn (roughly April to October, depending on latitude); active during daylight. | Mainly spring to early autumn (April to September in temperate Europe); diurnal (active in daylight). |
| Pest? | No | No |
🔍How to spot a common carder bee
- Dense, long fur that is predominantly ginger-brown on thorax and much of abdomen.
- Lacks strong, contrasting black-yellow banding; tail often pale or buff rather than bright white.
- Medium size with queens noticeably larger and bulkier than workers and males.
- Found on a wide variety of flowers in gardens and meadows; slow, steady flight compared with smaller solitary bees.
🔍How to spot a garden bumblebee
- Long, narrow head and very long proboscis compared with many other bumblebees.
- Three pale yellow bands (collar, thorax band, abdominal band) with a mostly black thorax and often a white tail.
- Slender, elongated body compared with stockier bumblebee species like Bombus terrestris.
- Frequently seen visiting deep tubular flowers (e.g., foxglove, honeysuckle).
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a common carder bee and a garden bumblebee?
B. pascuorum has a more ginger/brown pile and lacks the clear three-band yellow pattern typical of B. hortorum.
Is a common carder bee or a garden bumblebee more dangerous?
Common carder bee: Can sting. Garden bumblebee: Can sting. Not aggressive and rarely sting unless handled or trapped against the skin. Garden bumblebees can sting but are not aggressive and rarely do so unless handled, crushed or the nest is threatened.
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.