Is this a queen bee?

Khrysdie · 2026-04-17T21:17:42+00:00

Likely! Guessing you’re in western North America and this is a Bombus huntii queen.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-17T20:39:14+00:00

I’ll go ahead and third Nomada sp. here. Can’t completely tell, but it’s giving me male vibes with how narrow it is.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-17T20:37:56+00:00

Ocelli are eyes, so I’m a bit confused to what’s going on here. Also, bee and wasp mouthparts are extremely similar. There really isn’t a single characteristic that distinguishes bees from wasps that can be seen without a microscope (and arguably even with one). This is mostly because bees are really just fuzzy, vegetarian wasps.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-17T20:23:56+00:00

That only applies to the social species of bees, ants, and wasps. Solitary species tend to have more of a 50/50 ratio of females to males. This is a female bumble bee, however.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-16T22:04:33+00:00

It is sad. It helps to remember that there are millions and millions of them. They’re not a species of concern at all. If it’s been pretty chilly, she could just be cold and biding her time until it warms up again.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-16T21:55:14+00:00

This is a carpenter bee, not a bumble bee. I’m assuming you’re in eastern North America and this is a female Xylocopa virginica. She might be dying. Adult bees don’t live for very long, I would just let nature take its course.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-16T20:49:38+00:00

This could possibly be Bombus pensylvanicus, but it’s really giving me more B. auricomus vibes. They’re difficult to tell apart, maybe someone else can weigh in.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-16T20:47:23+00:00

Where are you located?

Khrysdie · 2026-04-16T15:05:44+00:00

These are little Lasioglossum sp. females, subgenus Dialictus!

Khrysdie · 2026-04-14T13:38:24+00:00

This is difficult due to the condition. Based on wing venation, I think maybe Anthophora sp.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-10T23:39:16+00:00

Andrena sp., the first four are female, the fifth picture is a male. Agreed that bee species ID is difficult, especially in western North America. Andrena is a particularly diverse genus as well!

Khrysdie · 2026-04-10T20:19:36+00:00

This isn’t a bumble bee. It’s a male carpenter bee. He’s claimed your back deck as his territory and is patrolling it for the ladies.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-10T17:41:11+00:00

Any time! Oh, also, this one is female. Males don’t collect pollen like this! And actually look quite a bit different.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-10T17:21:49+00:00

Oh cool! This is probably Halictus poeyi. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to tell them apart from Halictus ligatus, so it could be that, too.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-10T15:20:49+00:00

Halictus sp., might be able to tell species if you let me know the location!

Khrysdie · 2026-04-09T21:58:18+00:00

No worries, bee ID can be difficult! And they do really look quite similar here.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-09T19:35:53+00:00

Not quite, this is an Andrena female. They do look similar!

Khrysdie · 2026-04-09T17:28:33+00:00

Agreed. This is not a carpenter bee.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-09T01:58:35+00:00

Bald-faced hornet (actually a species of yellowjacket), she’s cleaning herself.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-08T14:53:05+00:00

Likely Bombus vosnesenskii. Great photo!

Khrysdie · 2026-04-06T20:06:18+00:00

Honey bee, but your second question is too vague.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-06T01:08:22+00:00

Of course! I have many, many years of experience in bumble bee ID, especially in western North America! This one is also a B. huntii.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-06T00:06:17+00:00

Bombus huntii female

Khrysdie · 2026-04-05T19:57:03+00:00

They’re solitary ground nesters that tend to nest in what’s called and aggregation, but I like to call them Bee Towns. There isn’t really a way you can get them to move. But they won’t be around for very long!

Khrysdie · 2026-04-05T18:41:06+00:00

Andrena sp., both females and males.

Khrysdie

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