Bumble bee fight

[aeshna5]

I think it may be the mating of the bee Anthophora plumipes which superficially resemble bumble bes + I've noticed they do seem to pause in the air, almost hovering.

[ROYCER]

I know for a fact it was not a Hoverfly. i guess it could of been Anthophora plumipes but i distinctly saw yellow on them. i will continue to visit the site where i lost saw them to see if i can get a picture.

[paulinemiller10]

I feed hundreds of bumblebees in a feeder and I have never seen them fight, and they are all from different nests, I think the only thing I have read about them fighting is over the same nesting site, they are known to fight to the death, but I have not seen this happen in my own garden. Pauline.

[watusicat]

I was never aware of bumble bees fighting until I moved to Eastham, on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Every spring the bumble bees fight to the death. They ignore people while they dogfight overhead. It seems to be over territory. They "nest" in flowering vines that grow over our barn, and this is where the battles begin and end. I was hoping to find another explanation, but so far the best I have is my own observation and deductions. - Ron

[Matt Smith]

Originally Posted by watusicat

I was never aware of bumble bees fighting until I moved to Eastham, on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Every spring the bumble bees fight to the death. They ignore people while they dogfight overhead. It seems to be over territory. They "nest" in flowering vines that grow over our barn, and this is where the battles begin and end. I was hoping to find another explanation, but so far the best I have is my own observation and deductions. - Ron

These are more likely to be Carpenter Bees than bumblebees, male Carpenter bees do hold territory and battle with intruders.