Bombus lucorum (White-tailed Bumblebee)
The white-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum sensu lato) is a species complex comprising B. lucorum, B. cryptarum and B. magnus. These three species cannot be reliably distinguished from each other. This species is common and widely distributed throughout the Outer Hebrides
Populations from the uplands of the north and west of Britain have long been known to have some larger females, with broader paler bands. These bees, known as B. magnus or B. lucorum magnus, are often difficult to separate consistently. Another form, often with a narrow black S-shaped cross band at the side of the yellow thoracic collar of the females (just anterior to the wing bases), has been described as B. cryptarum. Until recently, this was not known to occur in Britain, although there are now records from Scotland and Ireland. Workers, males, and even queens of these bees can only be distinguished reliably only from their DNA sequences. (Williams 2012)
The distribution map shows records submitted for the species complex, however there are also records for the individual species and these can be consulted on the NBN Gateway Interactive Map