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07 June 2012

Question

QUESTION


(Enlarge picture for a better view)

Can you see the yellow bee in the middle of the picture? It's a newcomer to my garden and was seen on the Cotoneaster. Every year the Cotoneaster is smothered in bees but the yellow bee hasn't been seen before. It really stood out amongst the others. 

I am curious to know what sort of bee it was so if anyone has any ideas I'd be pleased to hear them. I've looked on the bee identification sites on the Net but couldn't find one that resembled it. 

It was quite a plump bee, very furry, with a strikingly yellow body, no stripes, and two orange coloured sacs either side. I presume that's where the pollen is stored but I could be wrong. The sacs wobbled as it moved from flower to flower.

Several days later I saw another bee. I'd say it was the same variety even though this one has stripes. It has the sacs either side. I watched this one for ages, intrigued by the way the sacs moved around. 


Any suggestions as to where I might get information?

***
While in the mood for asking questions, does anyone know anything about Veetle.com, the site by which we can watch films on computers? I was given the link but am wary of downloading something I don't know much about. 

11 comments:

  1. You could try an entomology site, Valerie, like this one http://www.amentsoc.org/insects/what-bug-is-this/
    Good luck!

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  2. Hi Valerie - sorry can't help you identify the bee but nice pics! :-)

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  3. Hi Jennie. Thanks for the link. I've just been browsing through the entire site. No sign of a bee like this though, and no explanation about those sacs ... if that's what they're called.

    Thanks, Diane.

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  4. How interesting, do let us know if you find out anything about the bee.

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  5. Valerie, that is one HUGE bee!

    Awesome shot!

    To me, it looks like some sort of bumblebee. I see them here a lot during the spring.

    And I've not heard of Veetle, but I googled it and checked out the site. It resembles a new version of You Tube. How safe it is, I don't know. I sometimes use Hulu.com, which also offers free films to watch on computers. Now that I know is safe.

    Have a terrific Thursday, dear lady!

    X

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  6. huh we had some really large ones that turned out to be wood bees....

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  7. I will, Pearl.

    It is a BIG bee, Ron, and so far no luck in identifying it. It's not like the bumble bees I've seen, it's bigger and, well, different. Thanks for the information on Hulu.com. I'll check it out forthwith.

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  8. Great Bee shots! They don't look familiar to me, however, you might try googling them. I know nothing about the movie site you mentioned. I never do that. I'm just glad I could finally access your blog so I could comment. It's not been wanting to open up for me lately.

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  9. Must have been a lovely sight, bees fascinate me especially when I see them carrying all the pollen on their legs. Never knew about those until I started blogging. Sorry, do not know anything about Veetle. Hope you find out more about the bee and the link from other blogging friends. Have a great weekend Valerie and thanks for stopping by.

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  10. To BEE or not to BEE, that is the question!

    Let us know when you find out - I have no idea what this one is!

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  11. I used to see them quite a bit when I was a child. I'd just call them bumble bees. They're larger than the ordinary beer, and I certainly wouldn't want to get stung by one.

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