‘Are these very small #bumblebees we’re seeing out foraging around now a specific species?’ A good question. Thanks for asking us. Here’s a brief thread to explain these diminutive beauties. Please #retweet/#share with your crew. For the small bumblers. 🐝 #bees #nature 1/9

Spoiler Alert: They’re the first brood of worker #bumblebees and they’re all female! These small bumblebees that you may have seen fitting snuggly into a buttercup as they forage over the past while, very often - depending on species - are in appearance mini versions… 2/9

…of the larger queens that you may have seen out foraging/house hunting in early spring. Shortly after establishing their nest these queens will have laid their first batch of eggs which they then sit on to incubate, and when hatched provide food for. Depending on species… 3/9

…it takes roughly four weeks for this first batch of eggs to develop into adult worker #bees. During this period the queen bee is effectively operating as a solitary bee - she must keep the eggs at the right temperature whilst at the same time forage for food to nourish… 4/9

…herself and then the developing larvae. And therein lies the reason for the small size of this first batch of workers - adult body size of #bumblebees is primarily determined by the amount of food provisioned during the development of the larvae and these larvae have… 5/9

…only one bee - the queen - seeking and returning food to them. Once on the wing these small female worker #bumblebees will spend their entire adult lives - around 4 weeks or thereabouts - helping the queen to produce further broods. They will forage, maintain and protect.. 6/9

…the nest and nurse the subsequent broods. These subsequent broods tend to produce larger #bees as the queen now has this support network of daughters helping her. So to recap: Small #bumblebees out foraging recently are likely the first batch of female workers. 7/9

They’re small mostly due to relying solely on the queen for food when developing. They’re not a ‘type of bee” but smaller individuals of their species. They only live as adults for a short time. They help ensure that subsequent broods develop and are larger in size. 8/9

So big up to these pint-sized #bumblebees. Short-lived and small but mighty! And oh so vital. Please pass this on. #retweet for #bees! Knowledge is power. But true power is caring. Or should be. Thank you. Have the best weekend you can! 🙏🏼🐝 #bumblebees #share #nature 9/9

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