![]() The key feature that distinguishes the Red Belted from the Rusty Patched is the rust coloring is typically confined to the third and fourth abdominal segments, which concentrates the rust on the lower half of the abdomen (vs. This species looks similar to the Orange Belted Bumble Bee but is uncommon in Maine, so you are not likely to come across it often. This bee also has a distinct “V-shaped” black patch on its thorax (where the wings attach), where the Rusty Patched has more of a subtle “thumbtack-shaped” black patch between its wings. The wide orange mid-section is bounded by a complete band of yellow above and below, and just the tip of the abdomen is black. The key distinguishing feature of this bee is that both the second and third abdominal segments are completely orange or rust colored. This species is the most common and abundant bumble bee you will see with rust color on its abdomen, so you will quickly learn to recognize it. Orange Belted or Tricolored Bumble Bee ( B. There are three other species of bumble bee in Maine that have rust coloring on the abdomen, but with careful attention to detail you can learn to tell them apart. (Only males and workers have this color pattern – queens do not have a rusty patch and are difficult to distinguish from other species without the aid of a microscope.) Sometimes the patch is browner than rust-colored, but it is always confined to the second abdominal segment and bordered by yellow along the sides and bottom. This color pattern is quite similar to a few other Maine species, but the distinguishing characteristic is a rust-colored “patch” on the upper middle part of the second abdominal segment. In Rusty Patched Bumble Bees, the first two abdominal segments are yellow, and the rest of the abdomen is black (see photo below). Photo Credit: Xerces Society / Elaine Evans The color patterns and markings on the different segments are helpful in distinguishing one species from another. When looking at a bumble bee from the top or side, you will notice that the abdomen is divided into 6 or 7 segments, depending on the sex of the bumble bee. You can help us find it by carefully observing the bumble bees you see and learning how to distinguish the Rusty Patched from similar-looking Maine bumble bee species (it’s not hard!) I f you think you’ve found one, snap one or more close-up and in focus photos (or a video to select the best photos) and submit them to either iNaturalist or Bumble Bee Watch where a group of experts will confirm the identification.īecause the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee is one of only a few species in Maine with rust coloring on its abdomen, that is the key feature you should look for. It has not been seen in Maine since 2009, but we are hopeful it’s still out there somewhere. With a 90% decline in numbers and range since the 1990s, the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis) is the first bumble bee protected by the U.S. But some species are becoming rare or even extirpated. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is looking for the federally Endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee and we need more eyes!īees are among the most important pollinators, pollinating 2/3 of the food we eat, ensuring food security and healthy ecosystems for both humans and wildlife. Rulemaking Proposals Open to Public Comment.Opportunities for People with Disabilities.You can help to encourage bees and wasps to your garden by providing nectar-rich flower borders and fruit trees. But they are under threat from loss of habitat and the increasing use of pesticides and herbicides. Males are smaller than females and along with the red tail, have two yellow bands on the thorax and one at the base of the abdomen.īumblebees are very important as pollinators of plant species, including many food crops. The female red-tailed bumblebee is a large, black bumblebee with a red butt patch. Both the males and the old queen die in the autumn, but the new queens hibernate through the winter to emerge in the spring to start a new hive. ![]() Males emerge later and mate with new females who are prospective queens. As with other bees, the queen emerges from hibernation in spring and starts a hive by laying eggs that hatch into workers, these workers tend the young and hive. It can be found anywhere there are flowers to feed on. The red-tailed bumblebee is a very common bumblebee on Vancouver Island, emerging early in the spring and feeding on flowers right through to the fall. Red-Tailed Bumblebee, Vancouver Island, BC, Photo By Bud Logan
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