Is this normal? (Bee)

[Fred1953]

I was chasing a bee around our pear tree on Sunday trying to take a decent close-up photo(harder than it looks, especially when you're a bit frightened of them - yes, I know it's irrational )

Anyway, here's one shot (slightly out of focus unfortunately) which shows what I guess is the bee's proboscis(?) but I've never see anything like it before - is this a "normal" bee or a stranger to these shores?)

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Fred1953

I was chasing a bee around our pear tree on Sunday trying to take a decent close-up photo(harder than it looks, especially when you're a bit frightened of them - yes, I know it's irrational )

Anyway, here's one shot (slightly out of focus unfortunately) which shows what I guess is the bee's proboscis(?) but I've never see anything like it before - is this a "normal" bee or a stranger to these shores?)

Looks like a Bombus pascuorum but the tongue does seem to be split; some bees tongues are bifid (I don't know about bumblebees but I bet Eucera will) but not trifid ... or could there be a leg there and/or something else .....

There you are - all that trouble and end up with a mystery: part of life's rich tapestry ....

[eucera]

Perfectly normal behaviour. This is Bombus pascuorum.

What you are seeing is the movement of the protective GALEA (at the sides) to expose the central GLOSSA (or tongue - in the centre). this is happening in preparation to landing on a nectaring visit at these flowers