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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Robber who wore underwear on head gets prison time ... Secret chapter of 9/11 inquiry released after 13-year wait ... Businesses, drivers mixed on Highway 62 project impact ... Robber who wore underwear on head gets prison time ... Secret chapter of 9/11 inquiry released after 13-year wait ... Businesses, drivers mixed on Highway 62 project impact ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Some bees just like to camp out on summer nights Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 15, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Jul. 15, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News My lavender is among the last to bloom in Medford, partly because there isn't a lot of direct sun. I see a much different type of bee buzzing around the blooms, not a honeybee or big, black, hornet type. They're fuzzy, some honey-colored and others black with the honey-colored stripe. They're very active, right up until sundown sometimes. What I find amusing is that when I go out early in the morning, there will be a dozen or two clinging to the bush, fast asleep. Can you tell me what kind of bees they are? — Earl A., Medford We sought out Rick Hilton, the highly versatile entomologist at the Oregon State University's Jackson County Extension/Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center. The professor tells us we're dealing with a very common-to-our-area yellow-faced bumblebee known in Latin as Bombus vosnesenskii . With a name like that, our guess is they migrated through Iceland. "It seems that male bumblebees tend to sleep outdoors," Hilton told us, which makes them very happy campers after a long day sucking up lavender. "The males do not have a stinger, so they can be handled without concern," he said. "Just don’t grab a female/worker because they do have a stinger and can use it — repeatedly — if bothered." You can distinguish the difference between males and females mainly by size, with the males being smaller, but in the case of the yellow-faced bumblebee, the male has an extra yellow stripe on its abdomen. "I am by no means suggesting that people should handle bumblebees willy nilly," Hilton warned. "But if you can tell the difference, then grabbing the males is an easy way for an entomology professor to impress their class." We won't tell a soul. If you're interested in finding out more about your neighborhood bumblebees, you can check out http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=17843 or http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2014/06/yellow-faced-bumble-bee-bombus.html — Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 15, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501