Bombus terricola, m, back, Centre Co., PA

A bumble bee with issues. This is the Yellow-banded Bumble Bee. Or, scientifically, we call it Bombus terricola. Its one of a number of Bumbles in North America that have been penalized by the introduction of Nosema bombi, an inadvertent import from Europe. Populations crashed, but the species can still be found in all of its range...and show some indications of recovery...though that is perhaps a premature conclusion. This specimen comes from State College, PA at the southern edge of its range (outside of the Appalachians that is). Good for D. Brough for finding it.Pictures by Sydney Price. Photography Information: Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200 USGSBIML Photoshopping Technique: Note that we now have added using the burn tool at 50% opacity set to shadows to clean up the halos that bleed into the black background from "hot" color sections of the picture.