Favoritos de krmenzel

Day 17! It also seemed to be Host-Swapping Day, with 3 Bombus species observed on flowers I’d never seen them paired with before.* Generally, the hydrangea in the first photo is only frequented by wasps and infrequented by little B impatiens, so I was surprised to catch the affinis there. Still, he started off on his regular Agastache patch and returned to it after his brief fling with the hydrangea and a more substantial dalliance with Joe Pye. Despite his increasing raggedyness, he remains easily recognizable amidst all of the other bumble bees. The characteristic bouyant flight style of affinis makes him easier to spot and visually track too.

*This makes me wonder if it’s just that the bee balm and hyssop are beginning to run dry or if parasites or fungi have taken over the controls.