Cryptic Humblebee. Bombus terrestris, Buff-tailed Bumblebee, on Ground Ivy, Glechoma hederacea, Gaaperzoom Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Well, the 'Bombus terrestris group' of Bumblebees has four kinds that are very difficult to distinguish from each other; hence my 'cryptic'. First I thought perhaps Olymp's Bee was a 'Cryptic', which in Dutch is known as the Wilgenhommel, Willow Bumblebee. My patch of Ground Ivy happened to be directly under a copse of Willows. But looking more carefully at my insect I though its tongue was rather too long for the Cryptic Bumblebee. So then I thought perhaps 'Lucorum', or even specific 'Terrestris'. But I just couldn't choose. So I'll just leave you with the general name of Bombus terrestris, which covers for four very similar Beasties.
Cryptic Humblebee. Bombus terrestris, Buff-tailed Bumblebee, on Ground Ivy, Glechoma hederacea, Gaaperzoom Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Well, the 'Bombus terrestris group' of Bumblebees has four kinds that are very difficult to distinguish from each other; hence my 'cryptic'. First I thought perhaps Olymp's Bee was a 'Cryptic', which in Dutch is known as the Wilgenhommel, Willow Bumblebee. My patch of Ground Ivy happened to be directly under a copse of Willows. But looking more carefully at my insect I though its tongue was rather too long for the Cryptic Bumblebee. So then I thought perhaps 'Lucorum', or even specific 'Terrestris'. But I just couldn't choose. So I'll just leave you with the general name of Bombus terrestris, which covers for four very similar Beasties.