Posts Tagged: Bombus

A Bumble Bee's Beeline for a Rock Purslane

We miss the late Robbin Thorp, 1933-2019, distinguished emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis, who co-authored  Bumble Bees of North America: an Identification Guide (Princeton University Press, 2014). He loved to share...

Bombus fervidus, formerly known as B. californicus, makes a beeline for a rock purslane in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bombus fervidus, formerly known as B. californicus, makes a beeline for a rock purslane in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bombus fervidus cradles itself in a rock purslane in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bombus fervidus cradles itself in a rock purslane in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The bumble bee's proboscis is easily seen in this image. This is Bombus fervidus foraging on a rock purslane. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The bumble bee's proboscis is easily seen in this image. This is Bombus fervidus foraging on a rock purslane. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bombus fervidus exits a rock purslane. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bombus fervidus exits a rock purslane. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Celebrating Bumble Bees on World Bee Day

It's World Bee Day and there's no better time than to showcase bumble bees, Bombus. The United Nations designated May 20 as World Bee Day to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to...

The yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, emerging from a foxglove in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, emerging from a foxglove in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bombus californicus, "the California bumble bee," foraging on blanket flower, Gaillardia, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bombus californicus, "the California bumble bee," foraging on blanket flower, Gaillardia, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bombus vandykei, the Van Dyke's bumble bee, foraging on lavender in a Vacaville, Calif. garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bombus vandykei, the Van Dyke's bumble bee, foraging on lavender in a Vacaville, Calif. garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The western bumble bee, Bombus occidentalis, on the hand of the UC Davis distinguished emeritus professor Robbin Thorp (1933-2019). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The western bumble bee, Bombus occidentalis, on the hand of the UC Davis distinguished emeritus professor Robbin Thorp (1933-2019). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bombus melanopygus, the black-tailed bumble bee, foraging on a pansy in a Vacaville, Calif. garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bombus melanopygus, the black-tailed bumble bee, foraging on a pansy in a Vacaville, Calif. garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is Franklin's bumble bee, Bombus franklini, monitored by Robbin Thorp (1933-2019) and now feared extinct. (Photo by Robbin Thorp)

This is Franklin's bumble bee, Bombus franklini, monitored by Robbin Thorp (1933-2019) and now feared extinct. (Photo by Robbin Thorp)

Get Ready...It's Happening...World Bee Day...

Get ready...it's happening...the annual World Bee Day... Monday, May 20 is World Bee Day, as declared by the United Nations "to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face, and their contribution to sustainable...

A bumble bee forages on Coreopsis in Vacaville. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A bumble bee forages on Coreopsis in Vacaville. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Yellow pollen from Coreopsis covers this bumble bee like gold dust. (Photo by Kathy Keatley)

Yellow pollen from Coreopsis covers this bumble bee like gold dust. (Photo by Kathy Keatley)

Here's a good foraging spot on the Coreopsis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Here's a good foraging spot on the Coreopsis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wings up, time to go. A bumble bee ready to take flight from a Coreopsis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wings up, time to go. A bumble bee ready to take flight from a Coreopsis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

There Is No Planet 'B'

There is no "Planet B."  The Earth is all we have. Today, April 22, is Earth Day (an annual event launched April 22, 1970) and what a perfect occasion to celebrate a native bee and a native wildflower.  Bombus vosnesenskii,aka the...

A yellow-faced bumble bee,Bombus vosnesenskii, buzzes into a barely opened California golden poppy in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A yellow-faced bumble bee,Bombus vosnesenskii, buzzes into a barely opened California golden poppy in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Check the orange pollen on this yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Check the orange pollen on this yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

And we have a lift-off! The pollen basket is easily recognized here. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

And we have a lift-off! The pollen basket is easily recognized here. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ready for take-off! The bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, prepares to leave the California golden poppy. Both are natives. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ready for take-off! The bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, prepares to leave the California golden poppy. Both are natives. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Decisions, Decisions: Solar Eclipse or a Bumble Bee?

What insects did you see during the Solar Eclipse, dubbed "The Great North American Eclipse?" And what were they doing? In some parts of North America, as the moon passed between the earth and sun, folks saw a total solar eclipse. But here in...

A queen bumble bee, probably a Bombus californicus, forages on a Coreopsis during the April 8th solar eclipse. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A queen bumble bee, probably a Bombus californicus, forages on a Coreopsis during the April 8th solar eclipse. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Brace yourself! A bumble bee appears to hold up a petal of the Coreopsis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Brace yourself! A bumble bee appears to hold up a petal of the Coreopsis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A little twist here, a little twist there. The bumble bee adjusts. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A little twist here, a little twist there. The bumble bee adjusts. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The end! The bumble bee is unaware of the photographer--or the solar eclipse. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The end! The bumble bee is unaware of the photographer--or the solar eclipse. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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