May 17, 2024
Rhododendron and Bombus ternarius (orange-belted bumblebee)
I'm walking by a white rhododendron when I hear a buzzing sound. Sure enough, out pops this bumblebee and then it's straight on to the next flower. Bumblebees are the heavy lifters of the flying insect world. They can double their body weight tanking up on nectar and can carry half their weight in pollen. To accomplish this, they beat their wings an incredible two hundred times a second. This is peak season for rhododendrons and this particular orange-belted bumblebee is obviously making the most of it.
