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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and Stinging Wasps » Anthophila (Apoidea) - Bees » Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees (Apidae) » Honey, Bumble, Long-horned, Orchid, and Digger Bees (Apinae) » Bumble Bees (Bombini) » Bumble Bees (Bombus) » Subgenus Pyrobombus (Bombus Subgenus Pyrobombus) » Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens)
Photo#145985
Mating Bumblebees - Bombus impatiens - male - female
Copyright © 2007 Jennifer Forman Orth

Mating Bumblebees - Bombus impatiens - Male Female
Framingham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
September 16, 2007
These two bumblebees were mating on the edge of my rain barrel today. I have never seen bees mating before, it was pretty odd. I've posted a photo of them disengaging as well.

Images of this individual: tag all
Mating Bumblebees - Bombus impatiens - male - female Mating Bumblebees - Bombus impatiens - male - female
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Contributed by Jennifer Forman Orth on 16 September, 2007 - 5:27pm
Last updated 9 December, 2007 - 5:05pm

Great image!
I just saw this photo for the first time today when it was used as a reference in a discussion in one of the forums. I wanted to compliment you on capturing a wonderful behavioral moment. These are the kind of images I strive to get when I'm out photographing insects.
… Harsi S. Parker, 5 October, 2008 - 11:57pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Bumble Bees.
… john and jane balaban, 9 December, 2007 - 5:05pm login or register to post comments

Bombus impatiens. The way th
Bombus impatiens. The way the male is sitting back while attached to the female is normal.
… Liz Day, 30 November, 2007 - 2:02am login or register to post comments

 
yes, i
agree with B. impatiens
… Vespula vulgaris, 9 December, 2007 - 1:56pm login or register to post comments

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