Great Yellow Bumblebee
CR

Great Yellow Bumblebee

Bombus distinguendus

UnknownVUEU

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

Overview

Bombus distinguendus, the great yellow bumblebee, is a species of bumblebee found in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, northern Russia, and Alaska.

The Great Yellow Humble-bee has experienced severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of flower-rich grasslands and coastal machair systems. Agricultural intensification, including increased use of pesticides and conversion of traditional hay meadows to intensive farming, has eliminated much of the species' foraging habitat. Climate change and coastal erosion further threaten the remaining populations in their restricted range.

Threat summary

Habitat

The species inhabits flower-rich, low-intensity grasslands and machair habitats, particularly in crofting landscapes of the Scottish Isles and Ireland, where diverse legume and wildflower forage remains available throughout the colony cycle.

Other threatened species in Apidae

Kirby's Nomad BeeCR

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Unknown
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Guernsey Nomad Bee

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Flat-ridged Nomad Bee

Nomada obtusifrons

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Haplodrassus cognatusCR

Haplodrassus cognatus

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Yellow-breasted Bunting

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Great Yellow Bumblebee classified as Critically Endangered?
Great Yellow Bumblebee is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Great Yellow Humble-bee has experienced severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of flower-rich grasslands and coastal machair systems. Agricultural intensification, including increased use of pesticides and conversion of traditional hay meadows to intensive farming, has eliminated much of the species' foraging habitat. Climate change and coastal erosion further threaten the remaining populations in their restricted range.
Where does Great Yellow Bumblebee live?
Great Yellow Bumblebee occurs in Åland Islands, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, and Estonia (plus 21 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 Great Yellow Bumblebee?
The main threats to Great Yellow Bumblebee 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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