Cold Bumble Bee Queen

[holyoutlaw]

When I was at Thornton Creek Park the other day, I stumbled (almost literally) across a cold bumble bee queen, just emerged from hibernation. That's my presumption. When I first saw her, she was moving very slowly, but gradually warmed up and moved faster. I was so excited I immediately got down onto the ground and started snapping away like mad, just having fun watching her through the viewfinder. As she revived, she moved faster, groomed herself, hopped from the ground to a grass blade, then disappeared.

Only one bumblebee survives the winter from any given nest. That survivor has to be big enough to not only survive hibernation, but raising the first generation of workers when there isn't much in bloom yet.

I felt rarely privileged to be in the right place and the right time. I was so excited and happy, in fact, that very few of the pictures turned out. Hah! Herewith, five not very good photos of a bumble bee queen.


I


II


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V

Comments

[shelly-rae.livejournal.com]

I love how the new Queens sound like big cargo planes as they buzz around.
Anon

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

Yes! There was a lot of traffic noise from I5, so I didn't hear this one when she took off, but I've heard others.

[shelly-rae.livejournal.com]

Someday I'll find the pictures of my bumble bee house and tell you about hosting bumble bees in my garden. When their legs are covered in pollen they look like they're wearing fuzzy yellow leg-warmers to match their back and yellow bodies.
Anon

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

I call them pollen knickers. My daydream garden has lots of plants for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

[wild-patience.livejournal.com]

You know what they say, it's good to be the Kin, er, Queen!

[eric-mayer.livejournal.com]

Neat. Bumblebees don't terrify me as much as other stinging insects -- so long as they aren't inside the house -- but I would have been admiring your queen from a safer distance. Photos don't sting though.

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

The macro lens makes it look closer than I really was. However, I was closer than most people would get.

(I almost said "sane" people. ;>)

[eric-mayer.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine used to pet bumblebees when we were kids. Finally I remarked that I thought he was pretty brave, considering the size of the stingers on those babies. His eyes got wide. "What? You mean bumblebees have stingers?" He never petted one again.

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

I have this mental image of her, thinking:

"First things first: I need a damn mimosa! Then I'll start getting things in order, but the wee drinkie? Not optional!"

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

I think you hit the nail on the head.

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

AWESOMEAWESOMEAWESOME!!! I *love* the last one!

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That's Julie's favorite, as well.

[gryph.livejournal.com]

I see now why you're anxious to photograph my stick bugs!

What days are usually better for you?

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

I'm embarrassingly free. The only day I have anything scheduled next week is Wednesday, in fact.

Late mornings and on work best for me.