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valis2So I have a minor obsession with bumblebees (they're so snuggly!), and our sunflowers attract several of them.
Two days ago I was watering them, and I noticed a rather freakishly large bumblebee (maybe one of the wood borers?). I tried taking pics, but they didn't come out well because of the angle of the sun.
Yesterday, though, I was able to take a few. I took a pic of a regular bumblebee so you could see that the freakishly large bumblebee was at least twice her size, but I couldn't get both in the shot, so it wasn't really helpful.
I don't think these adequately represent how large this bee is. First, you must remember that these sunflowers are NOT the normal, giant sunflowers. They're the small kind.
I attempted to use my finger for scale, but unfortunately, the bee moved, and is foreshortened, so you're still not getting an idea of how large this thing is.
Two days ago I was watering them, and I noticed a rather freakishly large bumblebee (maybe one of the wood borers?). I tried taking pics, but they didn't come out well because of the angle of the sun.
Yesterday, though, I was able to take a few. I took a pic of a regular bumblebee so you could see that the freakishly large bumblebee was at least twice her size, but I couldn't get both in the shot, so it wasn't really helpful.
I don't think these adequately represent how large this bee is. First, you must remember that these sunflowers are NOT the normal, giant sunflowers. They're the small kind.
I attempted to use my finger for scale, but unfortunately, the bee moved, and is foreshortened, so you're still not getting an idea of how large this thing is.
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-08 11:41 am (UTC)I am tired of bees this year. We're less than two weeks into school and I've already sent a half dozen kids in from the playground at recess with bee stings, and when I'm trying to line the little darlings up to go in, there's always some that are running out of line, dancing about and screaming 'BEE! BEE!'. Most frustrating. Especially when I'm trying to remain calm, cool, and collected about it, you know, 'Hey, look, I'm just standing here calmly and they're not bothering me! You try this, too, okay?' - when what I really want to do is run around screaming, too. I'm probably the only 41 year old who has never been stung by a bee. And now I'm kind of afraid (irrationally) that when I finally do get stung, I'll be allergic or something.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:01 am (UTC)And oh yes, I can well imagine the bee drama that goes on with children, having done a fair portion of it myself at that age, lol.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-08 11:46 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-08 12:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2009-09-08 12:09 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:26 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-08 12:28 pm (UTC)I can't help flinching away from the honeybees, but I have to confess that I actually sometimes *talk* to the bumblebees that show up in my garden -- I thank them for coming and for their work, and remind them to visit again soon.
But then, I'm weird that way. :-)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:35 am (UTC)And you're not weird--you rock. *hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-08 12:51 pm (UTC)That's a bumblebee. So cute! :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:32 am (UTC)ETA: And based on my (probably underperformed) research, I think it's a huge queen bumble bee, looking for a place to hibernate. She was nomming all the pollen!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 03:02 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 03:07 am (UTC)I vividly remember seeing one in a set of tunnels in a big wood sign--the hole was big enough for me to get my finger into. Makes me cringe--I can only imagine how much damage they can do!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 03:11 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 03:13 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 03:22 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 03:41 am (UTC)I wish it was the traditional hanging nest, so we could just knock it down in winter and be done with it. *cries*
Oooh, which kind of wasp spray is it? Do you remember offhand?
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 03:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 03:09 am (UTC)I would estimate that it was at least 1 1/2" long, if not longer. I'm going to try to take pics this week and see if I can get two bees in the shot because, seriously, this thing blew my mind. (At least for Michigan-sized bees, lol!)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 03:13 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 03:39 am (UTC)I'm not sure which kind of bumblebee it is, but I've poked around here and there on a few webpages, and it seems that some of the worker bumble bees native to this area seem to be listed around 17-20mm (about 3/4"), and this thing was probably more like 35mm. I'd peg most of the regular bumblebees I see at about 3/4" up to 1". Here in Michigan, we must just grow them small. hee!!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-08 01:43 pm (UTC)I love bees, but we don't get the bumble kind around here.
I'm going to post, in my next link round up, a bit about the old urban legend of bumblebees not being aerodynamic.
But seriously - lovely bee. POST MOAR BEES!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:34 am (UTC)And this bee was so beautiful and huge!!
Oh, and I remember seeing bumbler-sized bees in Australia--I have a feeling they might have been carpenter bees or something like that. All black, and huge!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-08 02:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:37 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:55 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 03:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-08 02:34 pm (UTC)Also, NEVER smash one of those. My mother killed one at our pool once and they release a chemical that alerts their friends. She was swarmed within minutes.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:35 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-08 02:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-08 03:17 pm (UTC)Also I always think of this:
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:52 am (UTC):)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-08 04:37 pm (UTC)If you want something in your flower garden that is a bumblebee magnet, plant some monarda (also called 'bee balm' or 'bergamot'). Skip the fancy newer varieties and go straight for one of the common or old-fashioned specimens that blooms in bright red. Not only will the monarda appeal to the bumblebees, it will also attract any hummingbirds you have in the area.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:42 am (UTC)And I'll look for that, definitely!!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-08 07:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:44 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:26 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 02:45 am (UTC)I adore the bee. I just wish I had photographed it well enough for everyone to see how huge it is!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 03:42 am (UTC)But . . . bumblebees are snuggly?
LOL, you never cease to amaze.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 10:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 05:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-09 10:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-10 03:26 am (UTC)Have no idea what their classification or habitat is, but suggest naming it "Dumbledore" and the flower after the character of your choice. :D
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-10 10:51 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-14 01:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-14 11:03 pm (UTC)