Is this a queen bumble bee?

[Paulypaul]

In the front garden on the crocuses, yesterday. Big and it's the middle of winter, so wondering if she's a queen.
Buff-tailed bumblebee?
View attachment WhatsApp Video 2024-02-05 at 20.43.49.mp4

 

[pargyle]

More than likely but she's out of hibernation a bit early - depends where she was hibernating for winter and what the termperature was - wherever she was she was woken up early. She may survive if there are no really cold snaps and she can find somewhere safe and warm each night. Nothing much you can do about it - she's found a bit of pollen and nectar in the crocus to keep her going and hopefully she will sort out a nest for herself and in due course her offspring. I've seen a queen bumble actually spending the night inside a crocus flower !

 

[Paulypaul]

More than likely but she's out of hibernation a bit early - depends where she was hibernating for winter and what the termperature was - wherever she was she was woken up early. She may survive if there are no really cold snaps and she can find somewhere safe and warm each night. Nothing much you can do about it - she's found a bit of pollen and nectar in the crocus to keep her going and hopefully she will sort out a nest for herself and in due course her offspring. I've seen a queen bumble actually spending the night inside a crocus flower !

It's been up to 14C here in Surrey. Temperatures are forecast to drop next week, to sub-zero at night and only 4-6C in the day.

 

[pargyle]

It's been up to 14C here in Surrey. Temperatures are forecast to drop next week, to sub-zero at night and only 4-6C in the day.

Those temperatures could well have woken her up from hibernation ... it was not that warm down here on the Costa del Fareham. Hopefully she will find a snug place to settle down and stay warm when the temp falls next week.