Buff-tailed bumblebee
Scientific name: Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Overview
Bombus terrestris, the buff-tailed bumblebee or large earth bumblebee, is one of the most numerous bumblebee species in Europe. It is one of the main species used in greenhouse pollination, and so can be found in many countries and areas where it is not native, such as Tasmania. Moreover, it is a eusocial insect with an overlap of generations, a division of labour, and cooperative brood care. The queen is monogamous, which means she mates with only one male. B. terrestris workers learn flower colours and forage efficiently.
From the Wikipedia article “Bombus terrestris”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
The Catalogue of Life records it in: Africa; Australia; Europe & Northern Asia (excluding China); Middle America; North America; South America; Southern Asia.
Common names
Also known in English as Buff-tailed Humble-bee, Buff tailed bumblebee, Large Earth Humble-bee.
Names in other languages (9)
- Arabic
- نحلة طنانة ذات ذيل برتقالي
- Chinese
- 欧洲熊蜂
- French
- Bourdon terrestre
- German
- Dunkle Erdhummel
- Japanese
- セイヨウオオマルハナバチ
- Persian
- زنبور مخملی
- Russian
- Шмель земляной
- Spanish
- Abejorro común
- Turkish
- Toprak Yabanarısı
Related animals
Sources
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Catalogue of Life — scientific name, classification, common names and range.
Version 2026-09-11, CC BY 4.0.
This species in the Catalogue of Life.
Citation
Bánki, O., Roskov, Y., Döring, M., Ower, G., Hernández Robles, D. R., Plata Corredor, C. A., Stjernegaard Jeppesen, T., Örn, A., Pape, T., Hobern, D., Garnett, S., Little, H., DeWalt, R. E., Miller, J., Orrell, T., Aalbu, R., Abbott, J., Aedo, C., Aescht, E., et al. (2026). Catalogue of Life (Version 2026-09-11). Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgz5n Source database: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- GBIF — species page and recorded occurrences.
- Wikidata — names in other languages. Q752274, CC0 1.0.
- Wikipedia — overview, from the article “Bombus terrestris”, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo — Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. File page.
Last updated: 4 October 2026