Am Bratach No. 112
June 2009
editor@bratach.co.uk

Have you seen this bee?
by Bob Dawson

In the photo above is the wonderful Great Yellow Bumblebee, mentioned in these pages before (see Paul Castle’s column from April). Once widespread on the UK mainland, it is now only found along the northern coasts of Sutherland and Caithness. We need your help to know more about where they are! Last month, during Scottish Biodiversity Week, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust launched a postcard project that we hope will inspire people to look out for this rare bumblebee, a speciality of the area.

As well as the thrill of seeing one of our rarest and most beautiful bees, there is the challenge of finding one at a new location. A good way to search for the bee is to check areas rich in its favoured food plants. In particular, it prefers pollen from members of the pea family, which is relatively rich in protein. Red Clover, Tufted Vetch and Bush Vetch are popular, with Common Knapweed also much used.
Although very rare, they will visit gardens. Most sightings are along the coast, but one was seen on May 22 this year, well over a mile inland. Also, a local fisherman in Bettyhill has reported bumblebees visiting the boat three to four miles offshore in recent weeks. Although these are likely to be common species, it shows how far spring queens may travel — on occasion it may be far greater than this.

How will I recognise it?
The queens are large bumblebees, overall golden-yellow but with a bold black band of hair between the wings. The smaller workers and the males share this distinctive pattern.

When can I see it?
The queens emerge from hibernation in June, but sometimes earlier. In July, numbers build up as workers are reared, peaking in August, when new males and daughter queens are also seen. There are small numbers into September.

Where can I see it?
This is not a bee of the hills, but of flower-rich grasslands. There are three places where it is regularly found in Sutherland:

1. Oldshoremore and Polin at the John Muir Trust Sandwood Estate. There are no records at Sandwood Bay itself — could you provide the first?
2. Farr Glebe by Bettyhill is a small, flower-rich area, behind the Strathnaver Museum near Farr Bay. Park by the cemetery and head through the gate — there is an interpretation board.
3. The Durness area has a diversity of habitats. Records are scattered so it is worth keeping an eye out anywhere there are lots of useful flowers.

What to do if I find a Great Yellow Bumblebee? If you suspect that you have found a Great Yellow Bumblebee, take a careful description and if possible take a photograph. Report your sighting to your local Highland Council ranger, complete and return a Great Yellow Bumblebee postcard, or email the trust at gyb@bumble beeconservation.org.

Now is the time to look for the large queens. You may also wish to come along on the Highland Council Ranger Guided Walks which visit these areas.

Bob is Scottish Conservation Officer for The Bumblebee Conservation Trust.