Despite the abundance of its host species Bombus terrestris, this is Ireland’s rarest cuckoo bumblebee with only 10 records, the most recent of which came from 2020 in Dublin. It is unknown whether it was ever truly established and it is possible that those seen were either vagrants from the UK or from small temporary breeding populations. Confusion with Bombus bohemicus may obscure its status as they can look similar, but the current species is black in colour with a golden yellow collar and a white tail, with small yellow adjacent patches on the sides of the abdomen.

Distribution in Ireland: Of what few records there are, most are from the southeast (Dublin, Carlow and Wexford). A single recent record also exists from Sligo.

Flight Period: April-October.

Habitat: Irish records come from a range of habitats; it seems to have little preference much like its host.

Flowers visited: Dandelion, Thistles, Knapweed, Clovers etc.

Personal Records: I have yet to see this species in Ireland; my only observations to date come from the village of Hemyock, Devon, UK where I have observed it feeding on Spear Thistle.