Earlier in the year I posted a picture similar to this one.
Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
What I didn’t say at the time (due mostly to my ignorance) is that this is a queen. Today’s picture balances the battle of the sexes as he is the male. Not only is his colour pattern different, he is considerably smaller.
My knowledge doesn’t extend to whether they fly at different times of the year, but I suspect that her early forays are to gather food for her brood, and that by late July her job is to lay eggs and while the males bring food for the grubs.
More wildflowers are blooming like the fleabane.
Common Fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica
The insects like it, which is just as well s its not a plant I can fall in love with.
