Shrill Carder Bees on the wing

August is the best month to spot this very scarce bumblebee. With help from Kenfig NNR warden Dave Carrington, a few Shrill Carder Bees (Bombus sylvarum) were tracked down on the reserve and I managed to take a few shots of this inconspicuous, but distinctive species. I am carrying out a survey for this species in the Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot areas over the remainder of the month and would welcome any sightings from anywhere in the county.

Key features include the rather washed out appearance of the pale hairs on the thorax and abdomen, which are indistinctly banded black between the wing bases and on the abdomen, which is tipped dull orange.