Bumble Bee with red legs

potatoe-mouse · #1 (**permalink**) 14-06-2011, 11:21 AM

Its been raining a lot here over the last week and I got chance to have a really good look at some bees who were grooming themselves dry. I was quite surpised to see how red the legs of this bee were since all the Bombus lapidarius I have seen (males and drones) have black ones. I'd be grateful if anyone knows why?

JRsbugs · #2 (**permalink**) 14-06-2011, 12:28 PM

It's a male Bombus rupestris (cuckoo to B. lapidarius), mine turned up yesterday. I have some with all black body apart from the tail and others the more 'typical' with some pale lines above the orangey tail and some brownish bands on the thorax.

Janet

beech · #3 (**permalink**) 14-06-2011, 01:12 PM

Nice pics PM. A species I have yet to see and by the looks of the distribution maps a good find in your area

potatoe-mouse · #4 (**permalink**) 14-06-2011, 09:19 PM

oo, how exciting! It would make sense as we have tons of lapidarius. I shall have to run off and find out all about them now. Thanks guys

Glad you like my photos. I was quite pleased myself because the the light was so low, but it really was only because the bee was wet and torpid it wasn't going anywhere. It seemed pretty brave too, the Southern Cuckoo Bee wasn't keen on me blowing on it to help dry it out, but that one didn't seem to mind at all.