First foreign species of bumblebee is recorded in Britain

A species of bumblebee never before seen in Britain has been discovered in the northern fringe of the New Forest, near the Wiltshire village of Landford, after somehow crossing the sea from France.

Just one male example of the Bombus hypnorum has been seen by biologists, who were surveying bees, but they believe there are dozens more. Although only one was seen, the species has probably established a colony, said Dave Goulson, part of a team from Southampton University's school of biological sciences that discovered the bumblebee.

The species is the only foreign bumblebee to be recorded in Britain. It is common in across continental Europe and has been found as far north as the Arctic Circle.

The lone Bombus hypnorum was a young male, which Dr Goulson said would have recently emerged from a nest established by a queen bee.

He said it was unclear how the species managed to reach the English countryside.

"Bumblebees would not be able to fly 20 miles across the Channel because they would need to stop to refuel on nectar," he said. "It is possible one bee came across in a plane or boat but more likely a queen was blown across in the spring or someone transported a nest in a container."

The find follows the first discovery of a new species of butterfly in the British Isles for nearly a century, when a type that looks identical to the common wood white butterfly was found in Ireland. Despite this apparent rarity, Dr Goulson said the discovery of new butterflies – which can come from as far afield as North America – was "relatively common" compared to bumblebees, which cannot travel long distances.

The Bombus hypnorum is identifiable by its brown thorax, black abdomen and white tail. Dr Goulson said other sightings were unlikely because the species, like other bumblebees, would soon hibernate, with the queens burrowing underground to survive the winter.