Common Eastern Bumblebee

Saw lots of these on a recent trip to Nova Scotia - stunning little things. It is a Common Eastern Bumblebee or Bombus impatiens to give it is proper name:

Cuckoo bees dominate...

On a recent visit to Lambert's Castle near Axminster, Andy Grinter and myself found a large number of cuckoo bumblebee species nectaring on bramble flowers. Six species of bumblebee were present but numbers were dominated by:

Bombus campestris: R. Harris

Bombus campestris: R. Harris

Bombus vestalis: R. Harris

Bombus terrestris (not a cuckoo species): R. Harris

 Bombus hypnorum was also noted in small numbers.

Bombus in the garden...

Well, my father's actually. He has an incredible border of geraniums, which are covered in bumblebees - 5 species present last night when I went to visit, including Bombus hypnorum:

Bombus pratorum: R. Harris

Bombus hypnorum: R. Harris

B. hypnorum: R. Harris

B. lapidarius: R. Harris

B. pascuorum: R. Harris

B. Terrestris: R. Harris

B. Terrestris: R. Harris

Bombus hypnorum...

Bombus hypnorum still turning up everywhere at the moment. Couple of great photos taken by Dave Helliar in his back garden in Chard, Somerset:

Bombus hypnorum: Dave Hellair

More Tree Bumblebees...

Ever spreading across the country, more Bombus hypnorum seen in and around Chard this summer...

Bombus vestalis

Bombus sylvestris, Castle Neroche, Nr. Chard

Bombus hypnorum, Escot House in Devon and Castle Neroche, Somerset

At least 12 feeding on bramble at Castle Neroche, Blackdown Hill, Somerset.

Bombus bohemicus

Castle Neroche, Blackdown Hills, Somerset: May 29th, 2011

Bombus hortorum

Enjoying the rhododendrons in Whitestaunton near Chard, Somerset.

Bombus vestalis

Large queen, photographed in Whitestaunton near Chard, Somerset.

Bombus vestalis

Cuckoo bumblebee species, hosting on bombus terrestris. This one was photographed at Pensthorpe Reserve, Norfolk in August 2010.

Bombus hortorum

Photographed near Snowden Park, Chard - seem to be feeding almost exclusively on thistles at the moment.

Bombus lapidarius

These beautiful bumble bees are a real jewel as they buzz around the late summer flowers. Nikon D90 with Sigma 105 Macro, ISO 1600, F11

Bombus lapidarius

Very common at the moment, males frequently visiting spear thistles and bramble by Snowden Park.

Bombus sylvestris

Photographed at Pilsdon Pen, Dorset. Very windy - lots of bees on the deck sheltering from the elements.

Bombus sylvestris

This is a male of the cuckoo species feeding on bramble in Snowden Park, Chard in Somerset. June 2010. Nikon D90, Sigma 105mm Macro

Bombus campestris - dark morph

Dark morphs with this species are quite common. Host species is Bombus Pascourum, this one was photographed feeding alongside them at Otterford Lakes on the Blackdown Hills.

Bombus pratorum

Stil the most common species in Snowden Park, Chard, Somerset.

Bombus lapidarius

These really love the clover and don't seem to be feeding anywhere else at the moment.

Bombus hortorum

Now that the clover is in full flower, the bees are rushing to take advantage. In Snowden Park, Chard there are at least 4 of the 'Big Six' including this Bombus Hortorum.

Bombus terrestris

Queen - not looking too good! There were several Bombus Barbutellus hovering close by although they normally attack Bombus Hortorum? Photographed at Wayford Woods, Somerset.

Bombus pascourum

Very common. Feeding here on red clover at Chard Reservoir, Somerset.

Bombus barbutellus

Cuckoo species, photographed here at Wayford Woods near Crewkerne in Somerset

Bombus hortorum

Photographed at St Margarets Holiday Park, Polgooth in Cornwall. First one of the year.