80 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

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.

[Swirlysnowflake]

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.

[ANTdrew]

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...

[Swirlysnowflake]

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 

[Antcatcherpro3]

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. 

[ANTdrew]

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

 

[ANTdrew]

The first Bombus impatiens queens are here:

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

[ConcordAntman]

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. 

[United-Ants]

Found a bumble bee queen on my pear tree today

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

[ConcordAntman]

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.

[NicholasP]

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?

[lazyant]

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

[ANTdrew]

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.

[ConcordAntman]

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ANTdrew]

Look at that plump thing!

[ConcordAntman]

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. 
 

 

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

[ANTdrew]

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.

[ConcordAntman]

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!

[ConcordAntman]

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

[ANTdrew]

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.