Tag: Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens)

Thank You Pollinators

April 8, 2026

A Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) gathering nectar and pollen from the blooms of Blueberry bushes (Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus). Of course it doesn’t realize it, but its efforts result in blueberries appearing on the bushes in late May. Soon after they ripen, they will become blueberry muffins, blueberry pies and toppings for many bowls of cereal.

Thank you pollinators! I love having you around!

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Gorgeous Wingstem

September 2, 2025

I have so many favorites in the world of nature. This is one of them. Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia), seen here in Shenandoah National Park. Right now it is decorating roadsides with its brilliant lemon yellow.

Wingstem is quite popular with pollinators. This is a Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) enjoying the Wingstem’s nectar.

The flowers of this plant are composite flowers which are made up of a cluster of tiny flowers called florets that together create a bigger form that appears to be a single bloom. The little florets include ray flowers on the outside appearing to be petals, and also disk flowers at the center. Other composite flowers include daisies and sunflowers.

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Pollen Baskets Or Corbiculae

August 26, 2025

A Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) gathering pollen on a Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida). These bees have a special place to collect pollen on the outside of their back legs called pollen baskets, or corbiculae.

Here, a bee with some pollen in its corbiculae.

Pollen will be gathered on their fuzzy bodies, then the bee will gather that pollen into these spoon-shaped depressions on their legs, the corbiculae, where it is stored for the trip back to feed the hive’s larvae.

Bees are amazing!

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