
Community identification
Common Carder Bee
Bombus pascuorum
- Order & Family
- Hymenoptera: Apidae
- Size
- 10 to 18 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Gardens, meadows, pastures, and woodland edges across Europe
Diet & Feeding
Nectar and pollen from a wide variety of flowers, particularly clovers and vetches
Behavior Patterns
Eusocial insects that form small colonies in moss or leaf litter; they use their long tongues to forage and are known for 'carding' (teasing) moss and grass to build their nests
Risks & Benefits
Highly beneficial pollinators for wildflowers and crops; they are generally non-aggressive and only sting if significantly provoked