Bumble Bee - Bombus griseocollis

Are

you sure this is not a bee fly? If it isent a bee fly then i would have to say its bombus impatiens, but it looks like a fly instead of a bee.

… v. vulgaris, 30 July, 2007 - 9:19am

Elbowed Antennae

It looked like a Bee-like robber fly at first, however you can instantly see the slender, elbowed antennae consistent with bees. Other bee-like structures which a fly shouldn't have: the comb-like pollen-carrying structure on the hind tibia, and the "tongue" being extended from between the mandibles. I'm not good at ID'ing bees, but this looks like a Bombus to me.

… Stephen Luk, 30 July, 2007 - 10:35am

Thanks

for the info! It was just something about the eyes that made me think it was a fly. But now i know it's a bee.

… v. vulgaris, 30 July, 2007 - 11:35am

… John S. Ascher, 30 July, 2007 - 3:21pm

obviously a bumble bee

… John S. Ascher, 30 July, 2007 - 10:32am

Male?

Look at those bulging eyes!

… Eric R. Eaton, 30 July, 2007 - 3:29pm

Bombus griseocollis?

… Adalbert Goertz, 30 July, 2007 - 3:58pm

yes

I agree, it's a male griseocollis

… John S. Ascher, 31 July, 2007 - 10:41am

a good suggestion

thanks Adalbert. I can also see the resemblence, but I really find it hard to tell the species apart in the bombus genus, even though this particular one seems to me to look fairly distinctive. I'll post another image of it from a bit of a different angle to assist in the ID

… David Kleiman, 30 July, 2007 - 4:51pm