23/08/2026
By mid-August, many bumblebee nests have produced the next generation. The new males live for 1-2 weeks, while the new queens survive by hibernating over winter. That means mating must happen now! 🐝💚
Before this can happen, a male must find a queen:
🚪 Some will hover around nest entrances waiting for new queens to emerge. You might spot male Tree bumblebees doing this.
👀 Others will perch on a prominent landmark and watch for approaching queens. These males tend to have large eyes.
✈️ The most common tactic used by male UK bumblebees is to set up a flying route, which can stretch for kilometres. Several different species may use the same route, each flying at a different height – male Red-tailed bumblebees often fly at tree top level.
For the best chance of attracting queens to their flying route, males use pheromones – smelly chemicals produced by glands near the mouth. The males paint their pheromones onto surfaces, like rocks and fence posts, which is helped by their colourful moustaches.
After all this effort, if a male and queen find each other, mating can take place. This can last for up to an hour.
Sometimes people get worried that a pair of mating bumblebees are stuck together. Don’t worry! After mating, each bumblebee will eventually fly off and go their separate ways.
⚠️ Never try to separate mating bumblebees as this can harm them! ⚠️
Have you spotted any mating bumblebees before?
🎥 Rebecca Cooke, Sara Doman, Karen Bowers, Jade Oliver
