The descriptive text, below the map, is from the Cornish Red Data Book (2009). The map on this web page depicts the organisms distribution and shows the records made pre-2000 and those made since.
Range & Status
Restricted to northern Scotland and some of the Scottish Islands. Greatly declined
elsewhere in the UK.
Regional Distribution
Extinct; no records since 1909. An easily recognisable bumblebee.
Habitat & Ecology
Strongest populations on coastal flower rich grassland particularly the machair of the
Hebrides.
Threats
Not applicable in Cornwall.
Conservation
A northern species at edge of it' s range (Williams et al. , 2007). Restoration of suitable size and quality of flower rich habitats now probably unfeasible in Cornwall. This species is listed on the BAP middle list as a globally threatened/declining species (BSGR, 1995). BAP species (2007).
I.J. Bennallick, S. Board, C.N. French, P.A. Gainey, C. Neil, R. Parslow, A. Spalding and P.E. Tompsett. eds. 2009. Red Data Book for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 2nd Edition.Croceago Press.
The Cornish Red Data Book Project was led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Federation for Biological Recorders (CISFBR). The full text and species accounts (minus the maps) are available on the CISFBR website.