BLACK-TAILED BUMBLEBEE
This bumblebee is not called the black-tailed bumblebee, it is actually called Bombus argillaceous, but I think most people see Latin names and instantly forget the species or lose interest. So, I have named it the black-tailed bumblebee, which is a reasonable common name for this cracking insect. This is a large bumblebee, with the queen measuring up to 30mm. The males and workers are smaller than her and have slightly different markings. The queen’s abdomen (if I may be so bold), is completely black, whereas the males and workers have a yellow and white stipe on their black abdomens. They all have dark wings and oblong heads.
This beautiful bumblebee can be found in the South and South-eastern Europe, and likes the nectar from mints, peas, asters and forget-me-nots, although I found it attracted to the wild sage which abounds in these parts. Every time that I spotted these bumblebees, they were on yellow flowers. I am not sure if this was a coincidence, or maybe the black-tailed bumblebees on Kefalonia prefer that colour, anyway, it uses its particularly long proboscis to suck up the sweetness.
