First bumble bee of 2014

Lord Vetinari

Spotted the first bumble bee of 2014 in my garden the other day. It was hanging upside down in a variegated holly bush. I tried holding the twig it was on further down to steady it and get a better angle but the bee felt the heat from my finger and started walking towards it. Bombus terrestris.
Brian V.

DeeBug

Great detail Brian,love them!

Stumblebum

So fluffy and cute! I however would be scared to hold it! Brilliant as always!

Lord Vetinari

Thanks for the comments Davy and SB

SB - it takes an awful lot of mistreatment to get a bumble bee to sting you. I've handled them lots of times and never been stung.
Brian v.