insect id and bumble bee question

[dogsmercury]

Hi

i saw this in the bark of a tree yesterday, is it a ladybird or pupae, it was wedged in so tight that i couldn't see under it



also saw my first bumblebee yesterday and it was huge, how do they manage to survive the winter?




many thanks
graham

[ladyhawk]

Ladybird could it be Calvia 14 - guttata they are found on tree's and shrubs

Bumble bee Bombus but leave that to the experts as not sure

[charlieb]

Originally Posted by ladyhawk

Ladybird could it be Calvia 14 - guttata

Close! It's Halyzia 16-guttata

[JRsbugs]

The bumble is Bombus terrestris, looks like queens.

I have had 4 today, one was smaller than the rest but at least 3 looked like queens. The smaller one had an orange tail (our native form), which is more often seen on queens, I had a small one early last spring which I wasn't totally convinced was a queen.

B. terrestris is active over winter now in the south, but I haven't seen them myself.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by charlieb

Close! It's Halyzia 16-guttata

Yes, the orange ladybird. At this time of year you may see hundreds or thousands of them: they come out of hibernation (under bark or in leaf litter) and sometimes, for a week or so, will aggregate on south facing bark before flying off to mate.

[dogsmercury]

thank you all for your help

many thanks
graham

[paulinemiller10]

You have a lovely big girl there Graham, they hibernate through the winter often in the ground, they are all waking up this time of the year, if you find them on the floor, move them to a warm place. Pauline.