Giant bees 3x times bigger - Ask Extension
8/5/24 @ 5pm
I have some gigantic bees that arrived on my sunflowers, 3x bigger than the honey bees. (Please see pictures)
Salem, Oregon area. Can y...
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Giant bees 3x times bigger #880334
Asked August 05, 2024, 9:23 PM EDT
8/5/24 @ 5pm
I have some gigantic bees that arrived on my sunflowers, 3x bigger than the honey bees. (Please see pictures)
Salem, Oregon area. Can you identify?
Marion County Oregon
Expert Response
Very cool. What you have is one of the largest bees in the state, the Nevada Bumble Bee (Bombus nevadensis). It is probably a brand new queen, who is preparing for winter by building her fat reserves up on your sunflowers. She will find a place to hibernate in a few weeks and will start a new nest next spring.
Thank you for your response.
Would it make any difference if I told you that I saw ( 3 ) of the giant bees swarming over the sunflowers at the same time, mixing with the normal honey bees that are also digging on the flowers. Thanks again!
From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> on behalf of Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Tuesday, August 6, 2024 2:45:02 PM
To: Phil Allen <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Giant bees 3x times bigger (#0150252)
Sent: Tuesday, August 6, 2024 2:45:02 PM
To: Phil Allen <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Giant bees 3x times bigger (#0150252)
Thanks, Phil,
Sunflowers are super important, as they bloom when everything else is going cripsy brown. And those heads are so big, they can accommodate multiple bees at a time. Keep growing them!
Sunflowers are super important, as they bloom when everything else is going cripsy brown. And those heads are so big, they can accommodate multiple bees at a time. Keep growing them!
