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Photo#69358
Large Bee: Bumble, or Have I Bungled It? - Bombus crotchii - male

Large Bee: Bumble, or Have I Bungled It? - Bombus crotchii - Male
Riley Wilderness Park, Coto De Caza, Orange County, California, USA
August 7, 2006
I've been going crosseyed over bee mimics so long that I don't recognize the real thing. (Thought this was a robber fly at first.) Duh! Critter was fairly inert, but didn't want me getting very close.

Images of this individual: tag all
Large Bee: Bumble, or Have I Bungled It? - Bombus crotchii - male Large Bee: Bumble, or Have I Bungled It? - Bombus crotchii - male

Moved
Moved from Bumble Bees.

Editor: New Guide page needed
Bombus crotchii Cresson; see below.

Bombus (Crotchiibombus) crotchii Cresson, 1878
male; B. auricomus is only found in eastern N. America! Its similarly enlarged eyes are convergent, not homologous

 
John, thanks so much!
It's wonderful to get a more detailed ID. Quite a pleasant surprise!

Bombus nevadensis auricomus (Apidae)
Probably. Check here.

I would say it is a "real" Bu
I would say it is a "real" Bumbelbee, genus Bombus, but it is a male. There are some species which have the large eyed males, but I'm only familiar with the European fauna...

 
Thanks, Martin
I went through the guide but couldn't see a match. Your help and knowledge are always appreciated.

Unless I'm Mistaken...
Those long antennae can only mean Apidae>Eucerini

Update: so, maybe I am mistaken...

 
Interesting stuff, Chuck.
I think I have one of those diggers, but elsewhere. Nice looking insect. (I like 'em hairy.)

 
I agree with Martin.
This does appear to be a male Bombus. Note the 'flattened' hind leg segments, which are much more characteristic of Bombus than other genera in the Apidae.

 
Bombus it is
I've moved it there.

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