Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#274819
Then Foursome - Yellow-faced Bumble Bees - Bombus - male - female

Then Foursome - Yellow-faced Bumble Bees - Bombus - Male Female
Fremont, Alameda County, California, USA
May 12, 2009
Probably Bombus vosnesenskii but possibly B. caliginosus.

Fourth joined in 5 minutes later to the Threesome.

Moved

Move to Pyrobombus?
Move to subgenus Pyrobombus for behavior?

Yes, these are probably B. vosnesenskii
But they could be the extremely similar but less likely B. caliginosus

 
Underside Hairs
GUIDE TO THE BOMBUS OF SAN FRANCISCO By Quinn S. McFrederick
"B. caliginosus is shaggier than B. vosnesenskii and has yellow hairs on the underside of the abdomen where B. vosnesenskii has only black hairs on the underside of the abdomen."

SF Bumble Bee expert says she "often can't tell unless I get them under a scope and can find some yellow abdominal hairs (which indicates caliginosus)".

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.