Bee behaviour and id please

[dogsmercury]

Hi
I could someone please tell me what type of bee this is please it was the only one on some flowers that had white markings



also on the way home from work just before sunst the other night i noticed these 2 bees clung to the underneath of thistle buds. they weren't moving, just hanging on in the breeze, is this how some species sleep overnight?





Many thanks
Graham

[threadspider]

Hi Dogsmercury,
I think the unidentified bee is Bombus vestalis, a cuckoo bee species. There are plenty here at the moment.
The other pictures may well show bees resting overnight on flowers. I read somewhere they don't actually sleep, but don't quote me on that.
Judith

[Africa]

Hi Dogsmercury, I am not good identifying cuckoo bumblebee, but that's your first one. As for the others, I find that when the bumblebees get caught in a shower, they get too cold and wet and instead of flying back to their nest they might spend the night on a flower just like that.