Post by nomad on Mar 26, 2017 16:18:23 GMT
Cuckoo Bees .
Most people have an image of Bumblebees being the Gardner's friend, harmless insects and indeed they are to us but take a look at this queen Bombus vestalis enjoying the rich nectar of the Spring sallow blossoms in early March. A Bee person told me that she is out rather earlier than she should be, for she has soon to commit murder and her victim a Bombus terrestris queen would yet to have started a colony.
For Bombus vestalis is a Cuckoo Bee and having mated in the Autumn she will appear after hibernation in the Spring full of Eggs. One she has located the host colony of Bombus terrestris being a very good mimic, B. vestalis will enter the nest unharmed, surprise and kill its queen and then lay her eggs to be reared by the colonies workers.
Another B. vestalis queen was seen in a rather lethargic and unsteady state on a moss covered oak trunk in a woodland, having no doubt just emerged from hibernation. While clinging on to the tree, she raised one of her legs in the air, I have been told that this reaction is that she is sensing danger, that danger being myself or more likely the macro lens of my camera. I was amazed at the number of mites that were attached to her. These are harmless to the bee, they are not after her blood but are hitching a ride and once she has invaded a nest of B. terrestris, will leave her to feed upon the wax, pollen, nest debris, and other small insects. All Bombus species transport these mites.
The Cuckoo Bee Bombus vestalis
Most people have an image of Bumblebees being the Gardner's friend, harmless insects and indeed they are to us but take a look at this queen Bombus vestalis enjoying the rich nectar of the Spring sallow blossoms in early March. A Bee person told me that she is out rather earlier than she should be, for she has soon to commit murder and her victim a Bombus terrestris queen would yet to have started a colony.
For Bombus vestalis is a Cuckoo Bee and having mated in the Autumn she will appear after hibernation in the Spring full of Eggs. One she has located the host colony of Bombus terrestris being a very good mimic, B. vestalis will enter the nest unharmed, surprise and kill its queen and then lay her eggs to be reared by the colonies workers.
Another B. vestalis queen was seen in a rather lethargic and unsteady state on a moss covered oak trunk in a woodland, having no doubt just emerged from hibernation. While clinging on to the tree, she raised one of her legs in the air, I have been told that this reaction is that she is sensing danger, that danger being myself or more likely the macro lens of my camera. I was amazed at the number of mites that were attached to her. These are harmless to the bee, they are not after her blood but are hitching a ride and once she has invaded a nest of B. terrestris, will leave her to feed upon the wax, pollen, nest debris, and other small insects. All Bombus species transport these mites.
The Cuckoo Bee Bombus vestalis
