The photos above are of three female California bumble bees. The bee at the upper left is feeding on flowers of Verbena de la Mina in my backyard. It may be difficult to see, but she has inserted her tongue into a flower to feed on nectar. I photographed the two bumble bees at the… Continue reading California Bumble Bee
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
The Yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, is common in coastal southern California. The bumble bee featured in the first two photographs might have been a recently emerged queen based upon her large size and the date. I photographed her on March 25, and again on April 3, 2024. On those dates she visited a large… Continue reading Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
Black-tailed Bumble Bee
Where I live the Black-tailed Bumble Bee is usually the first species I see in January or February, depending on local conditions. On a walk last winter I stopped by a small community park near my house. The date was February 15, 2024. The park has a few native plant cultivars, including three manzanita shrubs.… Continue reading Black-tailed Bumble Bee
White-Shouldered Bumble Bee
The White-shouldered Bumble Bee (Bombus appositus), is common in the western states at higher elevations including the Sierra Nevada, Cascades and Rocky Mountain meadows and slopes. The species is less common in coastal areas. The female bees in these photos are feeding on Wild Bergamot. This species of bumble bee has a long tongue that… Continue reading White-Shouldered Bumble Bee