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Two Form Bumble Bee

Bombus bifarious

Photo by YukoChartraw
Published on Project Noah
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47.1849, -122.292

Field Notes

Description:

Thorax and abdomen are tri-colored (black, yellow and orange) and hairy.

Notes:

I saw so many bees flying & buzzing around my blooming rhododendron tree. The bee in the last photo has been staying still in that flower for more than several hours (and still is). Is he sleeping or just resting? All other bees were busy flying from one flower to another (boy, it's almost impossible to photograph bees!).

Reference Links:

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/documents/BumbleBeeGuideWestern201…

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
The MnMs
Is a very pretty bumblebee that I had not seen before. Thanks for sharing!
YukoChartraw
Thank you ForestDragon for your suggestion! I think your guess is right. I'm glad this bee has the ID now!
ForestDragon
Yuko, this one is definitely not B. huntii. Your bee doesn't have enough yellow on the head and front of the thorax. Going by that wonderful reference you gave (the one in the second comment) I would say this most resembles B. bifarius. B. bifarius seems to have quite a bit of variation of color, some of the variations seem to match the color pattern of your bee. This is my best guess with the references provided and your images. Hope it helps!
YukoChartraw
Another reference source: http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/documents/BumbleBeeGuideWestern2012.pdf
YukoChartraw
I'm torn between Two Form Bumble Bee (Bombus bifarius) and Hunt Bumble Fee (Bombus huntii). http://www.methownaturalist.com/37-Key%20to%20Bumblebees.pdf Can anybody can help me with the correct ID?

Spotted for Missions

Mission
The Pacific Northwest Bioregion
Photographed
PublishedMay 26, 2013

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