Just a quickie from last night.
As the temperature drops toward evening, I often see bumble bees settling in under the boneset blooms to spend the night. They are hidden from predators, but not photographers. I took advantage of the easy pickin’s and have these two images to share. Nothing spectacular, just a good look at its fuzzy self. 🙂 
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
The detail in your photos is absolutely stunning.
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Thank you, Charlie.
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I had no idea bumbles slept under blossoms. Neat capture. We haven’t seen nearly as many bees around the clover this year. Very worrying.
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I’m no expert, Rod, but I think as torpor sets in with the cooling of the day, they probably set up camp wherever they are perched.
We saw more honey bees this year than the last several, but that’s not saying a lot. It seems there are more compounds in use in the environment now than before which have a negative effect on the bee population. Actually. I have seen fewer insects on the whole this year than in previous.
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Same here, Steve. I remember when a good drive in the country would yield a very interesting (if tragic) entomologist trawl. Alas, now grills and windshields arrive un-bugged.
Still there are some of these fuzzy bees around for us to enjoy, and I love how you’ve captured this one.
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Ordinarily I would think fewer windshield bug splats would be a good thing, Melissa. But it does seem to indicate a downward trend in the insect population….or maybe they have just evolved those radar devices that are on cars to avoid deer.
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Haha, yeah! I have read that swallows that nest in underpasses have evolved to avoid going splat. Isn’t that cool?
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It is very cool the way the animal world adapts to the changes in the world environment. I am not sure we can even begin to match up with them.
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Yea, and we’d better try! I think of simplifying my life by reducing technology in my life, but then I think of my friends that I have met online, and I would miss all of you so much!
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I also think of simplifying things, Melissa. But most of what I have is made good use of and I would have a hard time giving it up as most is related directly to my passion. And like you, I would not wish to give up my virtual friends. 🙂
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The second one is my choice … tack sharp. All the while maintaining composition and technical stuff like, oh yeah, exposure! The influences of you and Steve have put an extension tube on my Holiday wish list (and a plamp, and a focusing rail … darn you!). D
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All good wish list items, David. I encourage you to make use of all. I did use a plamp and should have popped on an extension tube or two, but did not.
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Oops, hit the send button before I was ready. What are you using for a macro?
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Nikon 105 mm … it gets me to 1:1 I believe, but no more.
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These images are about 1:1 with my 180. Any closer would have required a tube. Your shorter focal length should allow for a bit closer I might think depending on the size of the subject. Kenko makes a nice tube set for a reasonable price.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/375238-REG/Kenko_AEXTUBEDGN_Auto_Extension_Tube_Set.html
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Two great looking macors. Fuzzy wuzzy stingers, they are. 🙂
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Thanks, Yvonne. I’ve actually never been stung by a bee. A few wasps have got my number though. 😛
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I’ve been stung once. A bee flew into a canned Coke I was drinking, and when I took a nice, big drink — it stung me right on the lip. I’m lucky I didn’t swallow it. The bee flew off. I headed to the B & B (bait and beer) to find some Benadryl. I looked like I’d been in a bar fight for a week.
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My brother had a similar experience, Linda. Only it was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich out of which he took a bite.
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When I saw Steve Schwartzman’s photo of the robber fly, one thing I commented on was the “split” feet that seemed custom-made for hanging on to prey. It looks like your bumblebee is making use of the same sort of split to hang on to that flower. You really can see it in the second photo — with the forefeet.
I do love bumblebees, but I’ve never had the pleasure of such a nice, close view. Great photos.
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Actually, they have that feature on all six feet.
Yes, they have adapted well over the eons for specialized behaviors. Much more so than we. If it weren’t for our brain we’d probably be a bit lower on the food chain.
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I’ve noticed similar hooks at the ends of legs on other kinds of insects, too. One example that came to mind is:
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Sleeping Bee-eauties! Fantastic macros. I’ve noticed them napping on the underside of our butterfly bush blooms.
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Thank you, Caroline. Insect study is full of all sorts of interesting behaviors.
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I saw this for the first time recently. Fascinating. Very good shots, Steve.
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I’ve observed it before but, for some unknown reason, never made any images until last night. Thanks, Andrew.
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You don’t need me to tell you that these are excellent macros, but I will.
Given that you’re in Massachusetts, your bonesets are farther along in flowering than the ones here. They certainly are good at attracting insects, aren’t they.
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That’s just fine with me, Steve. You can say it as often as you wish.. 🙂
Ours are a few weeks late. They certainly are great little attracters.. You can rest assured there will be more to come.
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