The remarkable spread of the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) carries on at pace, recent survey work by BWARS has revealed.
Bombus hypnorum © Max Whitby/NatureGuides
Since its discovery in 2001, at Landford in Wiltshire, it has spread throughout England and Wales, and was first found Scotland in 2013. Five years ago a BWARS survey mapped Tree Bumblebees as present in 200 grid cells. The 2014 survey found that number had risen to 1167.
Against the backdrop of catastrophic bumblebee declines, this rare positive news is certainly something to celebrate.
View the 2014 map for Tree Bumblebee here. Find out more about the BWARS Tree Bumblebee survey here.