Bumble bee with tongue sheath extended

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:21 pm

Hi Folks,

This is my first posting in the macro section of the forum although I have posted a few photos in the microscope section. This photo was handheld with a Fuji 6900z in my garden back in May 2003. The bee's most striking feature is it's white face which should make it easy to identify - nevertheless to date I have been unable to put a name to the species - so any help would be much appreciated. The tongue sheath was very obvious even to the unaided eye.

Bruce

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:22 am

Hi Bruce, welcome to the better forum

(only Kidding) very beautiful first post. I like the angle of this shot (head on). Good luck with the ID

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:36 am

Bruce

Try e-mailing these a picture and asking for identification:-

http://www.hedging.co.uk/acatalog/OxfordBeeCompany.html

DaveW

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:24 am

beetleman, Thanks for welcome and comments.

Dave, Thanks for the suggestion, I'll do as you suggest and let you know if I get an i.d.

Brice

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:40 am

Well what ever kind of bee it is there Bruce, you got a good shot of it. I used to use a Fuji FinePix S7000 sometime back and then purchased a Canon 20D and a 350D. Donated my FinePix S7000 to an up and coming young macro photographer. I took a lot of good photographs with that camera. Fuji's are nice cameras, especially for the money.

Cyclops · Post by **Cyclops** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:23 am

Are you sure its a Bee? Looks a bit like a certain hoverfly(Diptera), the larvae of which is the RatTailed Magot thats sometimes found in standing water.

Moebius · Post by **Moebius** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:25 am

What is that reddish-orange thing by it's right wing?

Ken Nelson

Moebius · Post by **Moebius** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:26 am

Doh....look before you type Ken...I can see now it is part of the flower itself. Thought for a minute we had a strangely shaped bee parasite.....

K

Moebius · Post by **Moebius** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:32 am

Cyclops,

Using Tom Webster's Article,

http://www.photomacrography1.net/photom ... _flies.htm

It looks by the antennae and the two wings (can see the two overlapping on it's left wing), that this is definitely a hymenoptera of some sort. May not be enough by this angle to give an accurate id. Did you have any side shots perhaps?

Ken Nelson

Cyclops · Post by **Cyclops** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:36 am

No unfortunately I dont. Havent done any decent macro in ages, just dont have the time yet.

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:56 am

Hi Cyclops and Ken,

I'm certain it's not a hoverfly and yes I do have a side-on view - I'll put it up as a new posting.

Bruce

Planapo · Post by **Planapo** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 3:47 am

Hello everybody! (my first post in here, nice community!)

Hi Bruce,
To me it looks like a male of the bee genus Anthophora (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophoridae).

Then it´s not to be called a bumble bee (genus Bombus and Psithyrus)

Hope this helps. Kind regards.

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 4:32 am

Hi Planapo,

Welcome to the forum.

I have followed up on your identification and from web photos and info (pale facial markings of the male) I'm sure you're right.

I've sent off a pic to the Oxford Bee Company and if I get a precise species ID I'll post the information.

Thanks for your help.
Bruce