About
Large, robust-bodied, very hairy bees. Black with a dull yellow band across the middle of the body and in front of the wings. The abdomen has a characteristically white tip in the female worker bees and a buff or off-white tip in the much larger queen. Males are similar, but mid-way in size to the workers and queens, and generally have more yellow hairs on the head and middle body section (thorax) and longer antennae.Bumblebees first appeared in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1992, most likely originating from New Zealand. They have since spread to all areas of the island. They forage on almost 200 species of native plants and have been implicated as possible competitors with native pollinators and in enhancing pollination of weeds.