Tag: backyard bee
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Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus impatiens Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) is by far the most abundant bumble bee in the northeast. Most males and female can be easily identified from the lemon-yellow coloration and single yellow band on T1. This bee is active throughout the year, but becomes particularly abundant in August, September,…
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Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus griseocollis Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis) is a common bumble bee in the northeast, often found in gardens, parks, and cities. Most males and female can be easily identified from the short “buzz cut” hairs on thorax, lemon-yellow T1 and brown-yellow band on T2. Small nests are active throughout the…
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Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus bimaculatus Two-spotted bumble bees (Bombus bimaculatus) carry spring on their wings. Queens are often among the first bumble bees seen each year, taking advantage of a pulse of forage in the forest canopy and spring ephemerals in the understory. Colonies grow and senesce quickly, producing the earliest reproductive after less…
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Golden northern bumble bee (Bombus fervidus)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus fervidus Golden northern bumble bee (Bombus fervidus) is always a treat to see. This handsome bumble bee is found in open lands including meadows, agricultural fields, and cities. Through B. fervidus is widespread, it is never very common, and is thought to be in decline, possibly due to the widespread…
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Black-and-gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus)
Apidae > Bombus > Bombus auricomus Black-and-gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus) often yields exclamations about its size compared to other bees. These large, striking bumble bees are hard to miss, and are often heard before they are seen. Queens emerge late in the year, and found small nests that senesce quickly; new gynes are seen…
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Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica)
Apidae > Xylocopa > Xylocopa virginica Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) is perhaps one of the most widely-recognized bees in our region. Males’ bossy attitude and females’ penchant for chewing into wooden decks makes them difficult to ignore. Note black glossy abdomen to separate from bumble bee queens at a glance. Human-disturbed environments suit carpenter…
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Lunate longhorn-cuckoo bee (Triepeolus lunatus)
Apidae > Triepeolus > Triepeolus lunatus Lunate longhorn-cuckoo (Triepeolus lunatus) is a distinctive cuckoo bee of agricultural fields, gardens, and cities. It is active in summer, well-timed to co-occur with its presumed eucerine host Melissodes bimaculatus. T. lunatus has a preference for nectar from summer-blooming Asteraceae in the garden like black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia) and coneflowers…
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European honey bee (Apis mellifera)
Apidae > Apis > Apis mellifera There are few habitats in northeastern North America where one can escape the reach of the hyper-abundant exotic European honey bee (Apis mellifera). Contrary to popular impression, honey bees are not chubby and black-and-yellow-striped, but rather slender, with golden tones along abdomen. For the most part in the northeast,…
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Chimney bee (Anthophora abrupta)
Apidae > Anthophora > Anthophora abrupta Don’t worry if you have to do a double-take: abrupt chimney bees (Anthophora abrupta) can fool even the most seasoned bee watchers. This fast-flying Bombus-mimic is active in mid-summer where it occurs in both rural and suburban landscapes. Unlike bumble bees, however, A. abrupta have brush-like scopae on their…
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Blueberry digger bee (Habropoda laboriosa)
Apidae > Habropoda > Habropoda laboriosa The blueberry digger bee (Habropoda laboriosa) is a common and economically-significant visitor to blueberry throughout the southeast. While its primary natural habitat of pine barrens is threatened by development and fire suppression, H. laboriosa appears to be flexible in its habitat preferences and frequently occurs in suburban and semi-urban…