Brown-belted bumble bee

Confirmed at BugGuide as female Bombus griseocollis or “Brown-belted bumble bee”; http://bugguide.net/node/view/791572

On blue salvia (family Lamiaceae, genus Salvia, I think — checking on that!).

Check out how we get down to this species:
» Insects (class Insecta)
»» Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (order Hymenoptera)
»»» Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps
»»»» Anthophila (Apoidea) - Bees
»»»»» Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees (family Apidae)
»»»»»» Honey, Bumble, Long-horned, Orchid, and Digger Bees (subfamily Apinae)
»»»»»»» Bumble Bees (tribe Bombini)
»»»»»»»» Bumble Bees (genus Bombus)
»»»»»»»»» Subgenus Cullumanobombus (Bombus Subgenus Cullumanobombus)
»»»»»»»»»» Brown-belted Bumble Bee (species Bombus griseocollis)

Went rowing with Grace today, but not in the same scull: we took two shells. (On my small car; I wish I had a photo of that!) She rowed the “stable” shell for about 40 minutes, while I rowed the “faster” single. We returned to the dock and she went out in the Maas. She did just fine. Quick learner on the arms and hands parts and had great posture. Well done, Grace!

One year ago (“Butterfly bush ‘macro’”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-06-19
Two years ago (“Pipevine Swallowtail (corrected)”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-06-19

[Beki]

I like that I can see everything so clearly.

[Sandy]

Great capture and detail.

[Thom Mitchell]

@bekimorris Thank you! I was pleased that there was good DOF in this shot!

[Rick Schies]

Great pic Thom, nice clear detail

[MaryBeth Dailey]

Interesting info on the taxonomy of that bee. I knew it but did not realize that there are so many types of bumblebees even. I used to think either there were ugly old carpenter bees, or "bumble bees." But some have black fuzzy butts like yours here. Some have yellow fuzzy butts, some have longer hair some have shorter...insects are amazing! This is a great pic of him . I am starting to think either there are just more purple flowers in the world, or that bumble bees prefer purple flowers. They seem to be on purple flowers in 90 percent of the shots we see on here.