Bombus occidentalis, the Western Bumble Bee, has several color forms or patterns. Color forms refer the coloration of the bumble bee with respect to the location of the hairs on its body. Solid areas of colors often present as bands; sometimes they can also take the form of patches or spots. If two hair colors… Continue reading Western Bumble Bee
Tag: Xerces Society
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
Gratitude
Yesterday, on the last day of 2024, one of my favorite authors, Jeff VanderMeer, posted a question on the social media platform Bluesky. His question was: What are you grateful for from the past year? (Yes, there are lots of terrible things to be un-thankful for, but that’s not this thread.) I am a grumpy… Continue reading Gratitude