CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR

Bombus affinis

Bombus ternarius

The Bombus affinis bumblebee, shown in the top of the two photos, is on the verge of extinction, and the Xerces society has asked members to inform it should any of us spot one. Claire and I saw what we thought might be a Bombus affinis last week and took some pictures, the best of which is the bottom photograph, and sent them to Xerces. Rich Hatfield of the Xerces Society wrote us promptly and said it was not a Bombus affinis but likely was the multi-colored Bombus ternarius, which is not a
bumblebee of concern. He encouraged us to keep looking.