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This queen was slowly rambling through a woodland edge. She seemed to be in somewhat rough shape, perhaps because it rained heavily last night (?) If anyone can explain why her wings look so small, I am interested to know.

Queen bee who seems to be maintaining access to a couple abandoned chipmunk holes on the north side of the house, just outside of the roof dripline. Large diversity of nearby spring-flowering plants.

Behavior has been happening for about 5 days. I imagine a nest is in the works.

Video available (not uploaded anywhere yet).

This Bumble Bee was feeding on a Gaillardia flower (Gaillardia aristata) in my front yard. The Gaillardia is one of many native plants I have growing on my property. It was sunny but cool that morning.

This bee was reared up on its hind legs and appeared to be in distress. In the images there is a tiny brown beetle biting the bee's proboscis. They stayed this way for 5 or more minutes before I walked away. Edit: Looking into it, I think the beetle is Antherophagus ochraceus, the silken fungus beetle, which clamps onto bumblebees and hitches a ride back to the nest. The beetle lays eggs in the nest and the resulting larvae eat organic debris.

Specimen collected under permit and keyed out. My first time encountering this species! Excellent camouflage.

Images taken as part of an insect biodiversity survey of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in cooperation with NPS. Any insect handling, collection, or off-trail activity was under permit.