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First bumblebee queens of the year


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80 replies to this topic

#61 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 15 2021 - 9:13 AM

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I wouldn't recommend it unless you really, really know what you are doing. Bumblebee populations are struggling enough without us collecting queens to learn/ screw up with.


"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#62 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted March 15 2021 - 12:25 PM

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The tricky part is getting fresh bee pollen to feed the queen before her workers start foraging. That’s why I’ve never tried it. I don’t have time to visit 400 flowers a day.

You actually don’t need fresh. Pollen frozen right after collecting works fine, from what research I’ve done.


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#63 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 15 2021 - 12:53 PM

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That’s good to know. You’d still need someone who keeps honeybees to get you good pollen to freeze. When I asked the only beekeeper I know, she gave me an old bottle of dried bee pollen from the store. I was like, uh thanks...
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#64 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted March 15 2021 - 1:30 PM

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I contacted a seller from Etsy and confirmed that the pollen was frozen right after collecting. I then payed extra to get it shipped here overnight and it seems good 


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#65 Offline Antcatcherpro3 - Posted March 16 2021 - 3:20 AM

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I have to wait until it warms up anyways. Its still cold here in MA. Outside right now is like 18 F. We only got 2 warm days last week where the flowers opened up and all the bees came out. 



#66 Offline ANTdrew - Posted April 5 2021 - 7:02 AM

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Bombus impatiens queens were all over my yard yesterday! Here is one feeding on one of my blooming redbud trees. :)

IMG 9522

 


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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#67 Offline ANTdrew - Posted April 8 2022 - 10:26 AM

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The first Bombus impatiens queens are here:

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Edited by ANTdrew, April 8 2022 - 2:47 PM.

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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#68 Offline ConcordAntman - Posted April 8 2022 - 7:28 PM

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That looks great. It’s still a bit cool here and I haven’t seen much of anything in bloom. We’re likely a week or two behind you. 


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#69 Offline United-Ants - Posted April 16 2022 - 5:56 PM

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Found a bumble bee queen on my pear tree today

Edited by United-Ants, April 16 2022 - 5:56 PM.

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#70 Offline ConcordAntman - Posted April 17 2022 - 7:18 AM

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I saw one too last afternoon flying low in my back yard. Looking for a nesting site perhaps! Next time I’ll need to have my camera ready!!


Edited by ConcordAntman, April 17 2022 - 7:19 AM.


#71 Offline NicholasP - Posted April 17 2022 - 7:41 AM

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I saw one too last afternoon flying low in my back yard. Looking for a nesting site perhaps! Next time I’ll need to have my camera ready!!

I live in Michigan and can't seem to find any bumblebee queens hibernating under logs and rocks. Do you guys know what trees and plants bumblebees will land on?



#72 Offline lazyant - Posted April 17 2022 - 7:44 AM

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Those are pretty big bees but don't they not sting sorry not a bee expert


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#73 Offline ANTdrew - Posted April 17 2022 - 11:34 AM

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I saw one too last afternoon flying low in my back yard. Looking for a nesting site perhaps! Next time I’ll need to have my camera ready!!

I live in Michigan and can't seem to find any bumblebee queens hibernating under logs and rocks. Do you guys know what trees and plants bumblebees will land on?
I’d bet they will emerge in late April or even May in your area. Willows and early blooming legumes or plants in the mint family will most likely attract them.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#74 Offline ConcordAntman - Posted April 18 2022 - 4:29 PM

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ANTdrew, it’s the fourth I’ve seen but the first I’ve captured digitally. Bombus impatiens on Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea).


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#75 Offline ANTdrew - Posted April 18 2022 - 4:37 PM

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Look at that plump thing!
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#76 Offline ConcordAntman - Posted April 29 2022 - 3:22 AM

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My Ground ivy seems to be a popular hangout! I shot this yesterday but between thumbing through “Bumblebees of North America” and checking iNaturalist, it took me a day to decide on the species. I think this is a B. vagans. 
 

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Edited by ConcordAntman, April 29 2022 - 3:25 AM.

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#77 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 12 2023 - 8:35 AM

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Happy to report a sighting of my first Bombus queen of the year on 3/9. Based on timing, my guess is she was Bombus bimaculatus.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#78 Offline ConcordAntman - Posted March 24 2023 - 10:06 AM

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No such luck here. It’s been rainy and cold. Little is in bloom so I haven’t seen a thing. I’ll keep on the lookout!



#79 Offline ConcordAntman - Posted April 14 2023 - 8:53 AM

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Tuesday & Wednesday were my first real Bombus queen sightings thusfar this season. The first is B. impatiens but the second pair might be of a B. bimaculatus. I only got the 2 shots. The first looks bimaculatus but the second looks impatiens so it’s a bit hard to tell. They both were nest hunting. 

DSC 8500
 
 
DSC 8496
 
 
DSC 8495

 


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#80 Offline ANTdrew - Posted April 15 2023 - 5:52 AM

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I believe this is a Bombus impatiens queen on my Carolina jessamine vine.

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Edited by ANTdrew, April 15 2023 - 8:10 AM.

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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.




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