Post by trehopr1 on Jul 25, 2020 3:52:19 GMT
I have always been a big fan of those "humble" bumblebees... Every year from late spring until early fall (mid-May - late Sept); these fuzzy industrious gentle giants (of a bee) go about their daily tasks of foraging for food, enlarging the nest, caring for the brood, and of coarse keeping things clean (of mold, mites and other unpleasantries).
Most of what we humans encounter of them are the worker base; (the small to medium sized) ones in our gardens or wayside areas. However, every now and again her majestry herself (the Queen) ambles out of the nest to forage, stretch her wings, and embrace the sunshine...
Bumble's as I like to call them are hefty (weighty) native bees. Their considerably larger size and girth means that when they find a flower they like -- they "drop" in for a visit with little care to anyone else sitting on that spot ! Believe me, everyone else steps aside -- even wasps. As, they light their sheer weight causes the flowers to bend under the added weight. After, a brief 5-10 seconds of lapping up the good stuff they lift-off (surprisingly effortlessly); and its off to the next tasty treasure. Watching these busy bees casually at work they almost appear to be "bounding" or "bouncing" from flower to flower. Bee lights -- flower bends down -- bee lifts off -- flower uprights and bee then lands again. Poetry in motion..... (Bumble's bounce)!
In my immediate area, we have 3 different species of Bumble's present. Although, I don't think most folks would ever beg to differ since most tend to think "feet don't fail me now" upon the sighting of a large bumble in their flower garden or yard. Yes, they are noisy large bees of presence but, they really are benign gentle giants. They can of coarse, protect themselves or their colony (home) as needed. However, I've never known of them as having any "attitude" unlike most of their Hymenopteran brethren.
Bumble's are pretty tough to get clear photo's of whilst pollinating; but, they don't seem to mind how close an observer gets in the attempt !
They have work to do...
Most of what we humans encounter of them are the worker base; (the small to medium sized) ones in our gardens or wayside areas. However, every now and again her majestry herself (the Queen) ambles out of the nest to forage, stretch her wings, and embrace the sunshine...
Bumble's as I like to call them are hefty (weighty) native bees. Their considerably larger size and girth means that when they find a flower they like -- they "drop" in for a visit with little care to anyone else sitting on that spot ! Believe me, everyone else steps aside -- even wasps. As, they light their sheer weight causes the flowers to bend under the added weight. After, a brief 5-10 seconds of lapping up the good stuff they lift-off (surprisingly effortlessly); and its off to the next tasty treasure. Watching these busy bees casually at work they almost appear to be "bounding" or "bouncing" from flower to flower. Bee lights -- flower bends down -- bee lifts off -- flower uprights and bee then lands again. Poetry in motion..... (Bumble's bounce)!
In my immediate area, we have 3 different species of Bumble's present. Although, I don't think most folks would ever beg to differ since most tend to think "feet don't fail me now" upon the sighting of a large bumble in their flower garden or yard. Yes, they are noisy large bees of presence but, they really are benign gentle giants. They can of coarse, protect themselves or their colony (home) as needed. However, I've never known of them as having any "attitude" unlike most of their Hymenopteran brethren.
Bumble's are pretty tough to get clear photo's of whilst pollinating; but, they don't seem to mind how close an observer gets in the attempt !
They have work to do...