The Honeybee (Apis mellifera) is a domesticated animal, just like the chicken, and is among the most common bees in our urban landscape, This bee is native to Europe and Western Asia, and its introduction into North America might be responsible for the spread of pests and diseases to some of our nitive wild bees.
The beautiful Orange-belted Bumblebee (Bombus ternarius) is supposed to be very common in Maine, but here in Kittery it is very rarely seen.
The Half-black Bumblebee (Bombus vagans) on Giant Hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia)
Males of the Brown-belted Bumblebee (Bombus griseocollis) have very large eyes.
Another bee species from a more northern part of New England is the Northern Amber Bumblebee (Bombus borealis), here seen feasting on Common Milkweed
The Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) is the most common native bee species in the urban garden in Kittery. This individual is carrying pollen on her hind legs.
Bumblebees are social bees. A queen is helped by worker bees in the maintenance of the nest.
The Confusing Bumblebee (Bombus perplexus) on Agastache
The Two-spotted Bumblebee (Bombus bimaculatus) on Agastache
The Yellow-banded Bumblebee (Bombus terricola) has become quite rare. I took this photo on a meadow in New Hampshire.
A female Longhorn Bee (probably Melissodes) with masses of white pollen sticking to her hind leg, seen on Ironweed (Vernonia)
Nine male Longhorn Bees hanging out on the rim of a sunflower. Their extremely long antennae are well visible here and a unique ID cue.
Small Carpenter Bees (Ceratina) are abundant in the urban garden and nest in the dry stems of raspberries and wildlfowers
This massive bee is a Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginiana). This species drills holes into wood for nesting.