Personal favorite…

Bombus…that’s bumblebee.

Ternarius…that’s three.

Introducing Tri-colored Bumblebee.

Don’t confuse with Yellow Jackets…it’s a

BUMBLEBEE.

Three colors: black yellow and orange orange.

A social insect, but only the queen in spring.

She lays fertilized eggs, incubates them through three pupal stages.

Newly hatched tricolor bumbles are ALL female.

They expand the nest, forage food: nectar and pollen-incubate new eggs.

Late summer the queen lays unfertilized eggs.

These eggs become drones-male bumbles.

Early fall the queen lays final eggs…all become queens.

New queens mate with drones.

The colony dies, only Queen remains…

Living overwinter next colony eggs safe inside.

Fabulous!