Oh, no - not the bumblebees, too

It appears the bumblebees may be in decline along with the honeybees.  Today's Washington Post had an article by Adrian Higgins on the subject. 

I don't see many bumbles. The bees I always thought were bumbles have turned out to be Eastern Carpenter Bees.  Turns out, I didn't know how to tell the difference until this year. I did see some bumbles last week on my Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue'.   Here's a photo.

It's Victoria Blue salvia in the article's photo, not penstemon as the caption says.

I've been keeping a sharp eye out for honeybees, and now I'm going to be looking for bumblebees as well.  What's been your experience with bumblebees this year, or even over the last few?  Are you seeing fewer?

Comments

[Gail]

I can't bear thinking about it! We have a neighborhood list serve and someone is calling for our city to start spraying for mosquitoes again, I despair that people don't connect the dots! I see carpenter bees but only a bumble now and then, I thought the honeybees were increasing but not here after all!

[luise h.]

Ifound your Page through a link on Garden Rant.Nice Blog.I want to comment on your Bee Report.My Garden is loaded with Bumblebees this year.Also Honeybees,at least six varieties of Butterflies,more Birds than we can keep track of and,and,and.There are NO Chemicals used in my Garden.I also have a large variety of Natives planted along with other shrubs,trees and flowers.As long as people think that spraying Miracle Grow and other chemicals is OK,we will loose more and more Pollinators,have soil turned into Hardpan and in general destroy the Earth that we are supposed to protect so it can sustain us.