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Hi Steve:
=20
The two bumble bees with orange on the upper part of the abdomen are B. ter=
narius & B. rufocinctus. The former is quite common in the Valley & in Cape=
Breton so I assume over most of the province. However ternarius is the ave=
rage size of B. impatiens so I cannot imagine the small size of so many tha=
t you describe. (Rufocinctus in my experience is rare).
=20
Ternarius can be separated from rufocinctus by the shape of the black on th=
e thorax. There are a few exceptions where the shape is somewhat ambiguous =
or the individual is worn.
=20
As for size there is much literature on bumble bees on the Net but I have y=
et to see any size mentioned!! Presumably that means size does not help in =
identification.
=20
I expect David McCorquodale will read this and solve the mystery.
Angus
=20
> Date: Sun=2C 18 Aug 2013 18:10:55 -0300
> From: srshaw@Dal.Ca
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] bumblebee identity -- was Miner's Marsh-Kentville
>=20
> Yesterday we visited Mt Uniacke House grounds again ostensibly for=20
> 'gathering'=2C while I spent most of my time 'hunting' in the old=20
> greenhouse area and on the drumlin=2C but not finding much. Apart from=20
> meadowhawk dragonflies and a few larger species=2C the only insect that=20
> was common was a small bumblebee -- seen literally in the 100s. I=20
> assumed that it would be the same species as Angus's 25=2C below=2C=20
> feeding on 'jewelweed'=2C but in checking the many Bombus impatiens in=20
> BugGuide=2C it doesn't look like a match.
>=20
> The Mt U bumblebee was decidedly small and had the upper abdomen of=20
> dark orange with the tip of the abdomen blackish=2C and would not be=20
> much more than 10 mm in length. Of the Bombus group figured on=20
> BugGuide=2C it most resembles B. ternarius=2C reported from Maine=2C thou=
gh=20
> some images there put the length of B. ternarius a good bit longer=20
> than my estimate. I took no photos -- is there any hope of guessing=20
> the ID from this limited description? What about B. centralis?
>=20
> This species was less interested in goldenrod (everywhere=2C but some=20
> flowers now are fading) than in what my daughter says is 'ironweed'=2C=20
> which I initially assumed would be an alternative name for Angus's=20
> 'jewelweed'=2C but not so. Jewelweed is apparently Impatiens spp=2C with=
=20
> pretty pink flowers=2C while the very abundant stuff that these bees=20
> were visiting does look like the ironweed found on-line=2C with small=20
> purple thistle-like heads=2C Vernonia spp.=2C of a different family.
>=20
> The only butterflies around in these open areas in ~2 hours of looking=20
> were Common Wood Nymphs=2C though these were much less abundant than 2=20
> weeks ago in the same places. Quite a few Virginia Ctenuca moths were=20
> flying late on=2C and some small syrphids (hoverflies) plus small=20
> grasshoppers. I saw a few native wasps and a couple of bees=2C but only=20
> a single honeybee. Having largely given up I tried instead sweeping=20
> grassy vegetation at one spot near the greenhouse=2C which turned up=20
> large numbers of jumping bugs=2C including several thorn-head=20
> treehoppers and buffalo treehoppers. So not all insects are down and=20
> out=2C or scarce.
>=20
> For fairy fern ring afficionados (all 3 of us=2C if that)=2C there are=20
> actually three fern rings up on the Mt. U drumlin=2C though the two new=20
> ones are further up=2C smaller and less perfect=2C all sensitive fern.=20
> The first ring I originally estimated by eye at ~20 feet across=2C but=20
> this is way off. I've since surveyed it fairly accurately and it's 30=20
> feet across and close to perfectly circular. So something odd is=20
> going on underground up there.
>=20
> Steve (Halifax)
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Quoting Angus MacLean <cold_mac@hotmail.com>:
>=20
> > Last evening at MIner's Marsh=2C I was pleased to find ~25 Bumble Bees=
=20
> > on Jewelweed (N. side of marsh). Even more surprising=2C they were all=
=20
> > the commonest BB in our area=2C Bombus impatiens. So there are pockets=
=20
> > of these bees still surviving although in many areas=2C one can only=20
> > find a couple.
> >
> > There was a number of small skippers flying too but never allowed=20
> > close scrutiny. This morning I tried again & photographed a few.=20
> > They were all Least Skippers. A few years ago loads of European=20
> > Skippers could be expected but apparently those are on the decline.=20
> > (The latter are "imports" from Europe so perhaps not a bad thing).
> >
> > There are lots of "white" butterflies at the marsh & one would=20
> > assume they are Cabbage Whites. However a closer look revealed at=20
> > least half are Mustard Whites ... late for their flight period?
> >
> > There were few birds. A female P/B Grebe could be heard grunting &=20
> > Kingfishers are ever present. The water level is too high to invite=20
> > any shorebirds but perhaps the hot weather will draw down the level=20
> > enough to entice some of the taller waders.
> >
> > Angus
>=20
=
--_9fef9358-006f-471c-ba32-76c67ddd0a09_
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<body class=3D'hmmessage'><div dir=3D'ltr'>Hi Steve:<BR>
 =3B<BR>
The two bumble bees with orange on the upper part of the abdomen are B. ter=
narius &=3B B. rufocinctus. The former is quite common in the Valley &am=
p=3B in Cape Breton so I assume over most of the province. However ternariu=
s is the average size of B. impatiens =3Bso I cannot imagine the small =
size of so many that you describe. (Rufocinctus in my experience is rare).<=
BR>
 =3B<BR>
Ternarius can be separated from rufocinctus by the shape =3Bof the blac=
k on the thorax. There are a few exceptions where the shape is somewhat amb=
iguous or the individual is worn.<BR>
 =3B<BR>
As for size there =3Bis =3Bmuch literature on bumble bees =3Bon=
the Net but I have yet to see any size mentioned!! Presumably that means s=
ize =3Bdoes not help in identification.<BR>
 =3B<BR>
I expect David McCorquodale will read this and solve the mystery.<BR>
Angus<BR>
 =3B<BR>
<DIV>>=3B Date: Sun=2C 18 Aug 2013 18:10:55 -0300<BR>>=3B From: srshaw@=
Dal.Ca<BR>>=3B To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>>=3B Subject: Re: [Nature=
NS] bumblebee identity -- was Miner's Marsh-Kentville<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B =
Yesterday we visited Mt Uniacke House grounds again ostensibly for <BR>>=
=3B 'gathering'=2C while I spent most of my time 'hunting' in the old <BR>&=
gt=3B greenhouse area and on the drumlin=2C but not finding much. Apart fro=
m <BR>>=3B meadowhawk dragonflies and a few larger species=2C the only in=
sect that <BR>>=3B was common was a small bumblebee -- seen literally in =
the 100s. I <BR>>=3B assumed that it would be the same species as Angus's=
25=2C below=2C <BR>>=3B feeding on 'jewelweed'=2C but in checking the ma=
ny Bombus impatiens in <BR>>=3B BugGuide=2C it doesn't look like a match.=
<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B The Mt U bumblebee was decidedly small and had the up=
per abdomen of <BR>>=3B dark orange with the tip of the abdomen blackish=
=2C and would not be <BR>>=3B much more than 10 mm in length. Of the Bomb=
us group figured on <BR>>=3B BugGuide=2C it most resembles B. ternarius=
=2C reported from Maine=2C though <BR>>=3B some images there put the leng=
th of B. ternarius a good bit longer <BR>>=3B than my estimate. I took no=
photos -- is there any hope of guessing <BR>>=3B the ID from this limite=
d description? What about B. centralis?<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B This species w=
as less interested in goldenrod (everywhere=2C but some <BR>>=3B flowers =
now are fading) than in what my daughter says is 'ironweed'=2C <BR>>=3B w=
hich I initially assumed would be an alternative name for Angus's <BR>>=
=3B 'jewelweed'=2C but not so. Jewelweed is apparently Impatiens spp=2C wit=
h <BR>>=3B pretty pink flowers=2C while the very abundant stuff that thes=
e bees <BR>>=3B were visiting does look like the ironweed found on-line=
=2C with small <BR>>=3B purple thistle-like heads=2C Vernonia spp.=2C of =
a different family.<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B The only butterflies around in the=
se open areas in ~2 hours of looking <BR>>=3B were Common Wood Nymphs=2C =
though these were much less abundant than 2 <BR>>=3B weeks ago in the sam=
e places. Quite a few Virginia Ctenuca moths were <BR>>=3B flying late on=
=2C and some small syrphids (hoverflies) plus small <BR>>=3B grasshoppers=
. I saw a few native wasps and a couple of bees=2C but only <BR>>=3B a si=
ngle honeybee. Having largely given up I tried instead sweeping <BR>>=3B =
grassy vegetation at one spot near the greenhouse=2C which turned up <BR>&g=
t=3B large numbers of jumping bugs=2C including several thorn-head <BR>>=
=3B treehoppers and buffalo treehoppers. So not all insects are down and <B=
R>>=3B out=2C or scarce.<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B For fairy fern ring afficio=
nados (all 3 of us=2C if that)=2C there are <BR>>=3B actually three fern =
rings up on the Mt. U drumlin=2C though the two new <BR>>=3B ones are fur=
ther up=2C smaller and less perfect=2C all sensitive fern. <BR>>=3B The f=
irst ring I originally estimated by eye at ~20 feet across=2C but <BR>>=
=3B this is way off. I've since surveyed it fairly accurately and it's 30 <=
BR>>=3B feet across and close to perfectly circular. So something odd is =
<BR>>=3B going on underground up there.<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B Steve (Halif=
ax)<BR>>=3B ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR>>=3B Quoting=
Angus MacLean <=3Bcold_mac@hotmail.com>=3B:<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B >=
=3B Last evening at MIner's Marsh=2C I was pleased to find ~25 Bumble Bees =
<BR>>=3B >=3B on Jewelweed (N. side of marsh). Even more surprising=2C =
they were all <BR>>=3B >=3B the commonest BB in our area=2C Bombus impa=
tiens. So there are pockets <BR>>=3B >=3B of these bees still surviving=
although in many areas=2C one can only <BR>>=3B >=3B find a couple.<BR=
>>=3B >=3B<BR>>=3B >=3B There was a number of small skippers flying=
too but never allowed <BR>>=3B >=3B close scrutiny. This morning I tri=
ed again &=3B photographed a few. <BR>>=3B >=3B They were all Least =
Skippers. A few years ago loads of European <BR>>=3B >=3B Skippers coul=
d be expected but apparently those are on the decline. <BR>>=3B >=3B (T=
he latter are "imports" from Europe so perhaps not a bad thing).<BR>>=3B =
>=3B<BR>>=3B >=3B There are lots of "white" butterflies at the marsh =
&=3B one would <BR>>=3B >=3B assume they are Cabbage Whites. However=
a closer look revealed at <BR>>=3B >=3B least half are Mustard Whites =
... late for their flight period?<BR>>=3B >=3B<BR>>=3B >=3B There w=
ere few birds. A female P/B Grebe could be heard grunting &=3B <BR>>=
=3B >=3B Kingfishers are ever present. The water level is too high to inv=
ite <BR>>=3B >=3B any shorebirds but perhaps the hot weather will draw =
down the level <BR>>=3B >=3B enough to entice some of the taller waders=
.<BR>>=3B >=3B<BR>>=3B >=3B Angus<BR>>=3B <BR></DIV> <=
/div></body>
</html>=
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