Barbut's Cuckoo Bee
EN

Barbut's Cuckoo Bee

Bombus barbutellus

UnknownLCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombus_barbutellus

Overview

Bombus barbutellus, or Barbut's cuckoo-bee, is a species of cuckoo bumblebee, widespread, if not especially common, in most of Europe.

Barbut's Cuckoo-bee faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urbanization, which destroys the flower-rich grasslands and meadows it depends on. The species is also threatened by the decline of its host bumblebee species, as cuckoo bees are obligate social parasites that cannot survive without their hosts.

Threat summary

Habitat

As a cuckoo bumblebee, B. barbutellus does not build any nest of its own, but usurps the nests of other bumblebees, killing the queen and forcing the workers to raise its own offspring. The main hosts are B. hortorum, B. ruderatus, and B. argillaceus.

Favourite food sources are flowering plants such as thistles; the queen also visits white deadnettle and vetches, while the male feeds on bramble,...

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Barbut's Cuckoo Bee classified as Endangered?
Barbut's Cuckoo Bee is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Barbut's Cuckoo-bee faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urbanization, which destroys the flower-rich grasslands and meadows it depends on. The species is also threatened by the decline of its host bumblebee species, as cuckoo bees are obligate social parasites that cannot survive without their hosts.
Where does Barbut's Cuckoo Bee live?
Barbut's Cuckoo Bee occurs in Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, and China (plus 36 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Barbut's Cuckoo Bee?
The main threats to Barbut's Cuckoo Bee are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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