Bombus insularis, f, face, Yosemite, CA
A hulking bumble bee nest parasite. Bombus insularis is another example of alternative bumble bee lifestyles. Usurping nests of other bumbles to raise their young. This one is found throughout the northern parts of North America and down the western mountains, but not the Appalachians. As witnessed by this recent specimen from Yosemite National Park the West still has this species, while I am not aware of recent specimens from the Northeastern regions of the U.S. Bumble bees have been crippled by recent pathogen introductions so it is hard to really say what is going on in terms of status sometimes. Claire Kremen's group collected this specimen. Photograph by Anders Croft
Beauty is truth, truth beauty - that is all
Ye know on earth and all ye need to know
" Ode on a Grecian Urn"
John Keats. Original public domain image from Flickr