#3507 · 🐝 bees, wasps & ants

Early Bumble Bee

🇳🇱 Weidehommel ·Bombus pratorum

🐝 Bees, wasps & ants 📍 in the Netherlands

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. © Laurence Livermore · CC BY-NC 4.0
2. © gordoncomstock · CC BY-NC 4.0
3. © Experience Matters · CC BY-NC 4.0
4. © Thierry Arbault · CC BY 4.0
5. 's-Gravenland, Capelle aan den IJssel, Nederland:© Paul G. Schrijvershof · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
6. Westerpark, 4814 Breda, Nederland:© Jurriën de Vries · CC BY-NC 4.0
7. Saranafort, Leiderdorp, South Holland, NL:© gruxonus · CC BY-NC 4.0
8. Nieuwe Niedorp, Netherlands:© thegreatdodo · CC BY-NC 4.0
9. Groesbeek, Nederland:© Herman Berteler · CC BY-NC 4.0
10. Groesbeek, Nederland:© Herman Berteler · CC BY-NC 4.0

what is it?

The early bumblebee or early-nesting bumblebee ( Bombus pratorum ) is a small bumblebee with a wide distribution in most of Europe and parts of Asia. It is very commonly found in the UK and emerges to begin its colony cycle as soon as February which is earlier than most other species, hence its common name. There is even some evidence that the early bumblebee may be able to go through two colony cycles in a year. Like...

base stats

NL sightings 865iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 32,455iNaturalist observations

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

Spotted 865 times in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: the #5 most seen of the bees, wasps & ants in NL.
32,455 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named in 1761 (265 years ago).