August 09, 2023

Wordless Wednesday: Endangered Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee on 'Summer Beauty' Alliums

RP on Alliums 2

RP on Alliums 1

RP on Alliums 3

To learn more about the endangered rusty-patched bumble bee, visit xerces.org.
To report a sighting, visit bumblebeewatch.org.

25 comments:

  1. Your wonderful photos suggest I should get out and check on my Alliums!

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    1. Yes, you have a high chance of having RP bumble bees in your garden, too. They are definitely a presence at the Arboretum.

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  2. I have to look more closely at the bumblebees in my own garden to see if I can find any with that distinctive rusty patch. Thanks for sharing this, Beth!

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    1. You may have some rare bumble bees in your garden, too, but the original range for the rusty-patched is Northeastern U.S. Fascinating creatures, all of them. :)

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  3. Good for you, Beth! so glad to hear an anti-pesticide message

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    1. Thanks, Hollis. Too many pesticides all around us. There may be times when they are needed, but not for general use in a home garden.

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  4. Very nice photos. How special to see that bee! I like how bumblebees are calmer and don't mind being photographed. Some bees are very leery and difficult. Carpenter bees, I'm talking about you.

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    1. Thank you, Lisa. Yes, the bumbles were preoccupied with the Alliums. So while they were moving, the were still just long enough for a few shots. ;-)

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  5. A good sign that we gardeners can be the CHANGE!

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    1. Thank you, Susie. The blooms and the bumbles are special. :)

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  7. Lovely creatures, and lovely that your garden helps support them.

    Here perhaps because of our lavish rainy winter many many more bumbles than usual. I planted five plants of a newish Salvia--they must really get something from that kind--they appear to spend the day going through each flower and are also at the Myrtus communis and Zinnias. I'm thrilled there is something in the garden for them.

    Best wishes and hope your drought is soon over.

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    1. They sure are fascinating to observe, aren't they? I'm amazed that these bumbles are doing so well despite the drought. Of course, I'm watering parts of the garden, but the Alliums are drought-tolerant. Thank you for your well wishes. We have precip in the forecast. Fingers crossed.

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  8. Those bumbles and alliums make me smile. I'll bet you smile too! Great photos, Beth. Tina

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    1. Thank you, Tina. Yes, the flowers and the bees bring out my smiles, too. :)

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  9. I’ve been meaning to take more pictures of pollinators in my garden, most photos end up a blur though. It’s interesting to see how many species of bumblebees that there are.

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    1. Oh, agreed. I can't believe how many species of bees there are. I know this one because it's endangered and unique, but I have to look up most of them after I take a photo. They are amazing to observe, though.

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  10. Beautiful! I don't think I've ever seen one of those!

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    1. Yes, they are beautiful, and I hope their numbers will recover so they won't be endangered anymore. The range for the RP is through most of the Midwest east to Maine, and south through the Appalachians.

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