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Common Eastern Bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

Published on Project Noah
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40.2798, -78.8022

Field Notes

Habitat:

Rural SW Pennsylvania, USA

Notes:

Found on the railing of our front porch.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

I can see why you would say that. The trouble is really that there are a lot of different bumble bee species with different color patterns which are not represented in the Peterson guide. The main distinction between the carpenter bee in the guide and your bee is that yours has a hairy black abdomen rather than the shiny, smooth black abdomen of the carpenter bee. It can be tricky to tell bumbles from carpenter bees until you get a feel for the differences. Until then we're happy to help!
Holy Moley, my Peterson's Field Guide to the Insects of North America has got it all wrong. http://www.zone-vx.com/Peterson.jpg
This is actually the common eastern bumble bee, Bombus impatiens.
Photographed
PublishedApril 7, 2011

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