Bombus rupestris female?

[JRsbugs]

Hi,

For a change I have gone back to a bumblebee, seen briefly once on a Dahlia.

Taken on 22nd August 2008. This one is bugging me, I saw it land and got a quick pic of it's back then it went. It looked very dark and fresh, unlike other B. rupestris I had but there has to be new females to overwinter. It was quite large, the hairs look very shaggy but there's no white streaks or edge tints to the hairs on the abdomen as other B. rupestris had. The hind legs have some orange hairs but the tail was much richer than I had seen on B. rupestris.

Sorry, only the one pic so a bit of a challenge.

Janet

[JRsbugs]

Bumping this up.

[eucera]

Really can't be sure at all I'm afraid.

[JRsbugs]

Thanks anyway Stuart, it will have to remain a mystery!