Tree bumblebee with wax moth larvae inside

Possibly due to their elevationed positions, many tree bumblebees nests are prone to attack by the wax moth, aphomia sociella. The tell tale signs are a very thick, strong web like structure in and around the inside of the nest itself. Of the 2 tree bumblebee nest boxes that survived in my garden this year, both succumbed to this little moth. For a more detailed account of the bumblebee nest destroyer, with video.

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For more information and to help save bumblebees join the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

You can download a detailed B. hypnorum information sheet here from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust written by Clive Hill

BWARS are recording the spread of B. hypnorum which you can submit a record here and join here