A bumblebee that was sitting on the bathroom window, not moving. I grabbed my camera to take some shots and then got out the honeypot and as soon as I touched the surrounding area of this beautiful insect it put out its proboscis and started to suck the honey with gusto, lovely to see this. It gave me another chance to take photos. I see this little bumblebee type in the garden a everyday, feeding or at least looking for nectar on the flowers of the large comfrey bush. They are very small in comparison to other bumblebees and move fast, never been able to take a photos until now. Just found out something else interesting, from observation, they do not go into the comfrey flowers, rather they bore a little hole in the tip of the flower petals and suck that way (I guess). I’d love to have a proper identification. I’ve looked at all sort of websites without any luck. Now I came across a blog post of a fellow blogger that looks very interesting, it is at https://standingoutinmyfield.wordpress.com/2017/06/29/cheat-guide-to-the-irish-bumblebees/
Could it be a young male B.Lapidarius I wonder? And no it is not! I have since learnt from a very reliable source, one of my fellow bloggers who is an ecologist, see her blog at https://murtaghsmeadow.wordpress.com/ that our little bumblebee is a bombus pratorum, or early bumblebee worker. It is not a male because males do not collect pollen and in the photo we can see lots of pollen on its legs. Only the queens and the workers collect pollen, the males do visit the flowers for nectar though (Murtagh’s Meadow).
Just adding two more photos of other bumblebees from the garden.
This one is also small but it has two bands of yellow and a white bum, so different from the previous bumblebee.
And this is a large one orange top, a lovely one. Must get better photos though.
I would also like to pass on recommended reading: Dave Goulson’s book – A sting in the tale –
Such amazing shots
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Thank you Derrick, I was lucky this time 🙂
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I soo love these creatures… as they are the Hells Angels of the bees with their furry black and yellow coats …😂
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Yes they are great aren’t they Vanessa. Much love 🙂
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From your photos i would say it a Bombus pratorum or Early bumblebee worker. I don’t think it is a male because it looks like it is carrying some pollen in its pollen baskets. And Early bumblebee workers are very small as you describe. They love the comprey in my garden too and as you say they will ‘rob’ the nectar from the side of the flower. Well done for saving the little fellow.
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SO interesting! So males don’t collect pollen? And I was going to ask if those yellow bumps were pollen sacs. What fabulous pictures!
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No only the queens and workers will collect pollen, but the males will visit flowers too for nectar.
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So good to know – many thanks – I badly need to read up on these wonderful creatures, love to know their life cycles too.
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I would recommend Dave Goulson’s book – A sting in the tale. Very accessible read about bees.
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Thank you, will get on to my library.
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I am going to correct/add the right name on my blog if you don’t mind. Look at some more photos online and you have got to be right. Thanks again!
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No problem – delighted to help
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I’m learning too Jodie, I did not know males do not collect pollen, was not sure at all if this was a male. It is good to receive an identification, now I can look up more 🙂
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Thank you that is so helpful! They are such a delight.
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They certainly are – and busy little bees too.
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Good to know also about the pollen, I was unaware that males do not collect pollen. I must learn more about them.
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I second Bombus pratorum female!
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Thank you very much, appreciate that.
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LOVE the bees! I’ve read several books about them AND my brothers-in -law recently got a hive, but I still can’t figure the whole thing out.
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Enjoy further reading Jodie, I have not even read one book about them – any recommendations gladly received.
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I especially loved ” The Bees ” by Laline Paull. It’s a novel, but it’s written from the point of view of a bee in a colony. It gave a non-farmer like me a better understanding, and it made me want to be a better steward of nature on my own little piece of this Earth.
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That sounds good, thank you Jodie, I will check it out at my library. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much.
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I was thinking yesterday that I should brush up on my bumble bee id skills!
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It’s that time of the year isn’t it Ali – enjoy 🙂
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Great shots! 🙂 I love bumblebees!
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Thank you Tom, and yes aren’t they the most delightful 🙂
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I never knew that their wings are so beautiful – thank you for sharing.
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Yes beautiful creatures Mary, happy that you noticed their wings. Hope you are keeping wel my dear friend.
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Amazing photos!
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Thank you.
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Hommels zijn opmerkelijke diertjes en er zijn heel wat soorten Dus ze op naam brengen is niet altijd gemakkelijk
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Ja dat ondervind ik ook Marylou.
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