Eric, I'm so jealous! I'm always trying to get bumble bee pictures, but mine never come out so good as yours. Nice. Thanks. --Joolz

I just don't like taking a queen prisoner, this new queen might have already started a new family somewhere else. My advise is to put up little boxes with insulation,..I've had some nesting in it. This nest was in a birdhouse Here I've build a small bumble house

I'm no bee expert, but I've seen that enough times to think it must be normal. I used to have what I suspect was the same bumblebee that always took a nap on my hand railing by my door every afternoon. It would leave after a few minutes, but often napped in the same place (the only reason I have for thinking it was the same one). I've seen them nap in zucchini flowers too, then leave after awhile. Last year I saw 20 or so bumblebees napping almost all at once on my dwarf orange tree...that I'm less inclined to believe is normal. A few were flying from flower to flower (it was in full bloom), but most were asleep in flowers...that and one other time I spilled orange icing and it put the ants to sleep makes me think orange flavored /scented stuff will make them nap unnaturally.

I have a lot of bumble bees around my Salvias, and they are relatively harmless, unless they are in their nests and you cover up their exit with your hand by accident. You will get a bite which will disappear after fifteen minutes unless you have an allergy or sensitivity to stings. For many on the east coast, these are usually carpenter bees, with shiny black bums. They bore half-inch holes in wooden structures like my nursery tables, Which are made from pressure treated 2 x 4 timber. Their exit holes are on the lower surface, which are not in my field of vision. They can be rather damaging to building eaves and other exposed wooden horizontal structures facing the ground. They also are pretty rough on long-tubed flowers like Salvias and will prevent seed set. When flying, they may dart and hover in front of you, but a wave of your hand will send them flying. You will also see the males darting and diving after each other, similar to feuding male hummingbirds.