description Bombus barbutellus Overview
Bombus barbutellus, commonly known as Barbut's cuckoo bee, is a species of cuckoo bumblebee in the family Apidae. Like other cuckoo bumblebees, it functions as an obligate social parasite: females invade the nests of host bumblebee species, primarily Bombus hortorum and Bombus ruderatus, where they overpower or kill the resident queen and rely on the host workers to rear their offspring. The species is distributed across Europe and into temperate regions of western Asia. Females emerge from hibernation in spring to locate and parasitize host colonies.
help Bombus barbutellus FAQ
Why is Bombus barbutellus called a cuckoo bumblebee?
A female Bombus barbutellus does not establish a normal worker-producing colony of her own. She enters another bumblebee's nest and uses the resident workers to raise her reproductive offspring, much like the brood-parasitic behavior associated with cuckoo birds.
Which bumblebee nests does Bombus barbutellus invade?
Its principal host is the garden bumblebee, Bombus hortorum. It has also been associated with closely related long-tongued hosts such as Bombus ruderatus.
How can Bombus barbutellus be distinguished from its host?
Like other cuckoo bumblebees, it lacks pollen baskets on the hind legs because it does not provision worker brood. Identification also uses abdominal hair bands, tail coloration, facial structure, and sex-specific features.
Where is Barbut's cuckoo bee found?
Bombus barbutellus occurs across parts of Europe and into western and central Asia. Its local presence depends heavily on healthy populations of Bombus hortorum and other suitable host bees.
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