Best time to see: mid May to late Sep

Key facts

One of Britain's rarest bumblebees, present in only a few locations, including alongside the Thames in Essex

Occupies grassland habitats with plenty of flowers, and in Essex principally low-nutrient brownfield sites

A long-tongued species, preferring plants with tubular flowers such as red clover and knapweed

Recognition

Greyish-yellow with a black band between the wings, black stripes on the abdomen and a reddish orange tail

Queens up to 17mm long; workers and males much smaller

Has a noticeably high-pitched buzz, hence its name

Lifecycle

Queens emerge from hibernation in May and build a nest on or just below the surface in thick vegetation

They raise workers to help build up the colony, which is small for bumblebees – 50 to 70 workers at peak

Fertile males and young queens emerge in late summer, and the mated queens hibernate until the following year