bumble rumble???

Is that what is happening here?  The smaller bee was definitely initiating something:

To my untrained eye, it DIDN'T appear "friendly."

It almost seemed as if the smaller bee were "biting" the bigger one?? 

He never let go, but repeatedly bent his head onto the larger bee.  I don't see a stinger?  and I don't think this is reproductive behavior? 

Are they two types of bumbles?  (Not happy to see each other?)  Whatever was going on, I happened upon it while I was cleaning my pond filter ~ that touch of purple in the photo is Lobelia X 'gerardii' growing by the waters edge.

You'll never guess who ended it?  Yep, me.  I couldn't stand it.  Bad or good, I broke it up.  No one is dying on my watch, especially if I can do something about it!

Comments

[Gail]

Kathleen, I don't know what's up with the bumbles, but they don't appear to be friends! I would have intervened, too! gail

[tina]

Good for you to have intervened. I would have done the same thing. Fantastic photos and lighting of the bees. I wonder what was going on??

[Kala]

You are a brave woman - I run far away from bees when I see them! Great details in these photos.

[Sweetbay]

I think you were witnessing a Beekiller attack. There are several species. Some look a lot like bees and some don't.