Very Black - _TNY_9201
I initially though this bumblebee was a cuckoo bumblebee known as the hill cuckoo bee (Bombus rupestris), but upon further inspection, I now think this is a red-tailed bumblebee (bombus lapidarius) - the very species which that cuckoo bee was imitating.
There are a couple of differences though: the cuckoo bee has black wings and while these are a bit dark, the aren't dark enough. Also, looking at the thighs of the hind legs, we can see some pollen stored there and since cuckoo bees parasitise on other species, they don't gather pollen themselves and thus lack the pollen baskets on those legs.
The flower here which is very popular with the insects is known as the heart-leaf oxeye (Telekia speciosa) and has been a surefire spot to find bugs in my mother-in-law's garden.
Very Black - _TNY_9201
I initially though this bumblebee was a cuckoo bumblebee known as the hill cuckoo bee (Bombus rupestris), but upon further inspection, I now think this is a red-tailed bumblebee (bombus lapidarius) - the very species which that cuckoo bee was imitating.
There are a couple of differences though: the cuckoo bee has black wings and while these are a bit dark, the aren't dark enough. Also, looking at the thighs of the hind legs, we can see some pollen stored there and since cuckoo bees parasitise on other species, they don't gather pollen themselves and thus lack the pollen baskets on those legs.
The flower here which is very popular with the insects is known as the heart-leaf oxeye (Telekia speciosa) and has been a surefire spot to find bugs in my mother-in-law's garden.