The Half-black Bumble Bee (Bombus vagans) is a common bumble bee of North America. Its local scarcity this spring has prompted me to wonder about it. However, I am finding it now — not in great numbers, but it is here. I saw it yesterday on a few different plants, including the oft-demonized Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe).
A Bombus vagans lifts off from the flower of a Spotted Knapweed.
My favourite shot of these two makes it look as if we have a blue-legged spider bee in our midst.
awesome photos as usual!