Photo: Mike Edwards / CC BY 2.5
Bombus pratorum
Early Bumblebee
A small, early-flying bumblebee with a distinctive orange-red tail, a yellow collar, and a yellow band on the abdomen. It is the first bumblebee to establish colonies in spring, with workers appearing from early April. It has a short colony cycle and nests above ground in grass tussocks, bird nests, wall cavities, and nest boxes. One of the most common bumblebees in Swiss gardens, parks, and meadows from lowlands to 2300 m. Swiss Red List: Least Concern (LC).
Species Facts
- Size
- 9–17 mm
- Flight Period
- March to August
- Nesting
- Cavities
- Specialization
- Generalist
- Abundance
- Very common
- Family
- Apidae
External Sources
This data has been cross-referenced with national sources:
Data Source & Copyright
| Category | Source / Author | License |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | Mike Edwards | CC BY 2.5 |
| Taxonomy & Distribution | InfoFauna Switzerland | Public data |
| Global Distribution | GBIF | CC BY 4.0 |
Data Quality
High Quality Last audit: 2026-05-22
Completeness: 100%
✓Photo exists✓Traits consistent✓Description quality✓Red List referenced✓Attribution verified
Confidence: 83%
IdentifiabilityHighImage confidenceMediumImage qualityHighTrait coherenceHigh
