![Orange rumped bumble bee](https://loka.nahovitsyn.com/175.jpg)
![orange rumped bumble bee orange rumped bumble bee](https://crawford.tardigrade.net/bugs/figures/bombusW.jpg)
The anterior scutum and the vertex of head and face are covered in a mixture of black and yellow pile and appear clouded (Thorp et al. Abdominal segment 1 is yellow, segments 2 and 3 are red or orange, and the remaining segments (4-6) are black. The penis valves of the males are usually hook shaped (Thorp et al., 1983).īombus melanopygus has a large body densely covered in long, fine pile (Franklin 1912). 1983).īombus melanopygus belongs to the diverse subgenus Pyrobombus Dalla Torre which is characterized by a malar space of medium length but longer than its apical width and antennal flagellum 2.5 to 3x the length of the scape. The gonostylus is short and sternite 8 is uniformly thick (Thorp et al. The penis valve is rounded at the apex with a sharp angle at middle of apical curvature. Wings are darkly stained brown (Franklin 1912). Body size and wingspan varies between castes: queens are 15 to 18 mm with wingspans of 29 to 36 mm, workers range between 11 to 15 mm with wingspans of 25 to 29 mm, and males are 9 to 13 mm with wingspans of 21 to 26 mm. Males tend to have less black pile on the face and the third antennal segment is shorter than the fifth but longer than the fourth (Franklin 1912).
![orange rumped bumble bee orange rumped bumble bee](https://live.staticflickr.com/8864/17785799895_9d63d855b4_b.jpg)
Identification Bombus melanopygus belongs to the diverse subgenus Pyrobombus Dalla Torre which is characterized by a malar space of medium length but longer than its apical width and antennal flagellum 2.5 to 3x the length of the scape. In addition to field ID tips, we have included information on native bee conservation and gardening for bumble bees.Common Name Orange-rumped Bumble Bee Seasonality Flight period of queens ranges early February to late October workers: early April to early September males: early May to early September (Thorp et al, 1983). We have used data provided by the USDA National Pollinating Insect Database for species presence and distribution. We have also worked collaboratively with USDA Bumble bee researchers at Logan State University and others. As part of Bumble Bee Watch, we have searched for, photographed, submitted and identified hundreds of bumble bees across the state of Washington as well as in Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Colorado. The Xerces Society established the Bumble Bee Watch citizen science project to collect presence data of bumble bees.
#Orange rumped bumble bee series#
Over the past few years there have been a series of field identification tools published for bumble bees including Bumble Bees of the Western United States, by Koch, Strange and Williams. The great majority of them are natives, a few of our natives are in severe decline or headed quickly to extirpation, and at least one is an introduced/invasive from the east coast, courtesy of British Columbia greenhouse growers of tomatoes. Here in Washington state we have at least twenty five (25) species. We think that with focus folks can learn to identify the various species of bumble bees as easily as they do birds–remembering of course that some birds such as shorebirds and flycatchers can be challenging!Īmong all of our pollinators, one group is well known to many, our humble bumble bees. Other identification tools tend to focus more heavily on taxonomic criteria best viewed through a hand lens, such as cheek pattern–and these are still sometimes needed for absolute confidence. We are publishing this website to help others more easily identify the bumble bees they encounter. We hope it may also be useful in surrounding areas such as British Columbia, Idaho and Oregon. The focus of our site is on field identification of bumble bee species and all their various color morphs in Washington State.
#Orange rumped bumble bee update#
* (author unknown, if you know, tell us and we will update for proper credit) Welcome to our website
![orange rumped bumble bee orange rumped bumble bee](https://stayglam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Unique-Sunflower-with-a-Light-Bulb-and-Bee.jpg)
They link together the various fabrics of our terrestrial systems, and without them, the systems will fall apart. They are invisible without being carefully looked for. Native pollinators are like the thread used in making a suit of clothes.
![Orange rumped bumble bee](https://loka.nahovitsyn.com/175.jpg)