The Garden Community for Garden Lovers

Busy at Work!


Busy at Work!

A Digger Bumble-bee (Bombus terrestris) busy at work on a Hibiscus flower.

Very common all over Europe. Workers die in Autumn, males, old & young females go into hiding and hibernate. After hibernating female lays foundations of nest in mouse-holes etc., up to 1.5m underground. Lines the nest with leaves moss etc. that it finds in the hole then builds waxy chambers and fills them with pollen and nectar. Larvae also receive additional food. Up to 150 workers and over 100 young females hatch in 20 days.



Comments on this photo

 

What a fantastic Photo....and thankyou for all that information.......

3 Aug, 2009

 

Thanks Milky and you're welcome!

3 Aug, 2009

 

Great shot!

6 Aug, 2009

 

Thanks Tasteyg.

6 Aug, 2009

 

It'll need a shower when it gets home - what a messy worker! lol.

8 Aug, 2009

 

:0))

8 Aug, 2009

 

wow, that is a fantastic photo, love it.

10 Aug, 2009

 

Thanks.

11 Aug, 2009

 

great photo and very informative:-)

7 Oct, 2009

 

Thanks Bornagain.

7 Oct, 2009



Comment on this photo


Pictures by all members
215213 of 302253

What else?

View photos by Frenchbean

This photo is of "The Local Inhabitants" in Frenchbean's garden

Members who like this photo

  • Gardening with friends since
    12 May, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    10 Oct, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    10 Nov, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    7 May, 2007