Moss Carder Bee Bombus muscorum

The Moss Carder Bee (Bombus muscorum) is a scarce, ginger-furred bumblebee of open, flower-rich coastal and upland habitats, declining across much of inland Britain through the loss of unimproved grassland. It nests on the surface, constructing a distinctive moss covering over its nest – giving rise to its name. In Suffolk it is most strongly associated with coastal grassland, grazing marsh, and heathland edge, with the county’s coast providing some of the most important habitat in eastern England for this species. It is dependent on a diverse, flower-rich sward and is particularly associated with clovers and vetches. Maintaining and restoring unimproved coastal and grassland habitats is essential for its future in the county. Image: © Nik Borrow, Flickr.

Find out more: iNaturalist, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society, Bumblebee Conservation Trust