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.


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Comments

[shelly-rae.livejournal.com]

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

[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.

[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!"

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

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

[gryph.livejournal.com]

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

What days are usually better for you?