Juanita Browne: Let's help the all-important females of the wildlife world, like queen bees

Let’s hear it for the bumblebee queens!

The buff-tailed bumblebee. In Ireland, we have 21 bumblebee species and one-third are at risk of extinction. Check out the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan for ways you can help.

Today, March 8, I watched a large fluffy bumblebee feeding on some heather flowers in my garden. 

Bombus terrestris, the buff-tailed bumblebee, is one of the early flying bumblebees you’ll see at this time of the year. I know this is a queen buff-tailed bumblebee by her large size, about 20mm in length, and the fact that her booty is orange/buff-coloured.