# Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum) > A widespread, furry ginger-brown bumblebee that visits gardens, meadows and hedgerows and is an important pollinator. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/common-carder-bee/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Can sting.** Not aggressive and rarely sting unless handled or trapped against the skin. Stings are similar to other bumblebee stings: painful for a short time and may cause local swelling. Bumblebees do not leave their sting in the skin. Standard first aid: clean the area and apply a cold compress. If someone has trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat, dizziness or widespread hives after a sting, use their epinephrine auto-injector if they carry one and call emergency services immediately. **Pets:** Stings can be painful if a pet bites or paws at a bee and may cause local swelling; severe allergic reactions in pets are rare but seek veterinary help if the pet shows distress, facial swelling or breathing difficulties. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Bombus pascuorum - Also called: Common carder bumblebee - Order: Hymenoptera (Bees, wasps and ants) - Family: Apidae (Honeybees and bumblebees) - Size: Workers 8-15 mm; males 10-16 mm; queens 15-18 mm (body length) - Colours: Ginger-brown, Pale buff, Black, Yellow (minor markings) - Habitat: Gardens, meadows, hedgerows, woodland edges, parks and farmland; nests in grass tussocks, compost heaps, under sheds or shallow soil cavities. - Range: Widespread across Europe and parts of western Asia; common in the British Isles and continental Europe. - Active: Spring to autumn (roughly April to October, depending on latitude); active during daylight. - Lifespan: Individual workers live a few weeks; queens can live up to about 1 year including overwintering. - Effect on plants: Pollinator - Pest: no ## Overview Bombus pascuorum is a common bumblebee across much of Europe and parts of western Asia. It nests on or just under the ground in grassy tussocks, compost heaps, bird boxes and similar sheltered sites. Individuals are relatively docile and forage on a wide range of flowers, making them frequent visitors to gardens and farmland. Colonies are annual: mated queens overwinter and start new nests in spring. Workers provide most of the foraging through summer while males and new queens are produced toward the end of the season. The species is adaptable to different habitats and is not generally threatened, though local declines can occur from habitat loss and intensive pesticide use. ## How to identify it Adults are medium-sized, densely furry bumblebees with a variable warm ginger-brown (especially on thorax and much of the abdomen). They usually lack the strong black-and-yellow banding seen in some other bumblebees. Hair colour can range from reddish-brown to paler brown; many individuals have some darker hairs on parts of the abdomen and a diffuse pale tail rather than a bright white. Queens are noticeably larger and more robust than workers and males. - 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. ## Lookalikes - **Tree bumblebee** (Bombus hypnorum): Tree bumblebee also has a ginger-brown thorax, but its abdomen is black with a clean white tail; common carder bees have a mostly ginger abdomen without a white tail. - **Moss carder bee** (Bombus muscorum): Moss carder bee is a brighter, more uniform golden-ginger with no black hairs on the abdomen and a paler underside; it is much less common and favours open grassland and coastal sites. ## Life cycle - **Egg:** Laid by the queen in cells made from collected pollen and wax; eggs hatch in a few days. - **Larva (grub):** Legless, white larvae fed on pollen and nectar by workers; grow rapidly while cared for in the nest. - **Pupa:** Larvae spin small cocoons and pupate; metamorphosis into adults takes place inside the cocoons. - **Adult (worker/queen/male):** Workers forage and care for brood; new queens and males are produced late season, queens mate and then overwinter. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Fed on pollen mixed with nectar by workers (pollen is main protein source). - Adults eat: Nectar for energy and pollen for protein; adults visit a broad range of flowering plants. - Predators of the young: Nest parasites and predators such as hoverfly larvae in some cases, and small mammals that dig up nests. - Predators of adults: Birds, spiders, robber flies, hornets and wasps; parasitic mites and fungi can also affect populations. ## Effect on plants and gardens Forages on a wide variety of flowers for nectar and pollen, including garden flowers, wildflowers, fruit blossom and legumes. Good pollinator for many crops and garden plants. ## Where and when to find it Look for adults on a wide variety of flowers in gardens, meadows, hedgerows and parks. Nests are often in grass tussocks, under compost heaps or shallow soil cavities. - Best time: Best observed from spring to autumn (April-October); warm, sunny days with many flowers are ideal. - Tips: Use a macro lens or long lens, keep a few meters distance to avoid disturbing foraging bees, and photograph side-on to show the ginger thorax and tail color for identification. ## Fun facts - The name 'carder' comes from their behaviour of collecting plant hairs (carding) to line their nests. - They are one of the bumblebee species most often seen in gardens because of their wide flower preferences. - Queens overwinter alone and found new nests in spring, unlike honeybee colonies which are perennial. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do common carder bees sting? Yes, they can sting but are not aggressive and normally only sting if handled, squeezed or trapped against the skin. ### Are common carder bees dangerous? Generally no for most people. Stings cause local pain and swelling; people with severe allergies should avoid them and seek medical help if stung. ### Why is a common carder bee in my house? They sometimes enter houses through open windows while foraging or may be searching for sheltered nesting sites; usually they can be guided out without harm. ### How can I get rid of bumblebees nesting in my garden? Because they are important pollinators, relocation is preferable to killing. If a nest is in a risky spot, contact a local wildlife rescue or beekeeper for safe removal. Avoid disturbing nests; professional help is safest. ### Where do common carder bees live? They nest at ground level in grassy tussocks, compost heaps, under sheds, bird boxes and similar sheltered places in gardens, meadows and hedgerows. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/55637), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombus_pascuorum). Identify insects and spiders from a photo with the Insect Scanner iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1543946563?pt=126685406&ct=web-markdown&mt=8 Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.