Barbra. Live with the bombus, they have a very special place in the pollination world. People pay big bucks for a bumblebee colony, something like 100 bucks or something, for a colony that has around 50 bees, hee, hee, pretty big and small numbers. As Sean said (and probably others too), they have a longer tongue than the honeybee and can pollinate things the honeybee can't. They forage on everything anytime, not like the honeybee that are pretty dedicated to a particular food source(s), at certain times. The also forage when the weather is bad, I have seen them foraging in the rain up here, they are unbelievably tough and versatile. They will not take over the pollen/nectar from the plants around your place, so love them, live with them, admire then, and mostly watch them, they are a thing of beauty within themselves. Have a beautiful and wonderful day, love our life we live. Cindi
Get a load of the length of tongue of this Bumblebee, loving that rhododendron flower!!!