Three Queen Bumblebees and soaked workers in a Sussex garden yesterday

Styrax japonica is a colouful small tree, which although not native to the UK, is great for bees.
THREE bumblebee species' queens were active yesterday evening.

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee queen, Bombus terrestris.

A White-tailed Bumblebee queen, Bombus lucorum

And a Red-tailed Bumblebee queen, Bombus lapidarius

Some bees were struggling to survive the downpour of rain.

This Buff-tailed Bumblebee worker or male is drenched to the chitin.
Elsewhere in the garden other species were active.

This Early Bumblebee male,  Bombus pratorum was very happy on cornflowers.
What a joy to see all these species thriving in a formal and wildlife garden
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