Strange looking bees

[Tonych224]

I have been watching my bees and for the past few weeks I have noticed bees with a lighter colour and also with marks on their heads. I have been trying to get a picture of them but this is the best I have managed so far. You will notice, the bee in the middle has different markings, I can't see that it is pollen as it doesn't look like it. You'll notice the entrance is reduced to 2 bee spaces due to the plague of ******* wasps!

Any ideas???

 

[Jeff Buzz]

They are harvesting himalayan balsam

 

[mbc]

They are harvesting himalayan balsam

 

[Pendragon]

Thanks for the question and the answer - about a dozen of mine are the same. I decided there was nothing to worry about as they are very active and healthy.

 

[Swarm]

Check out a patch of Balsam, the wasps especially get loads of pollen on their backs.

 

[Tonych224]

Thanks all, I have no idea where they have found that...! Clever little sausages

 

[madasafish]

Ghost bees.

 

[Pendragon]

I was calling them the blond bees.

 

[victor meldrew]

Bees entering a balsam flower hit a trigger hair , this causes the stamen to pat the bee on it's back ,leaving it coated with white pollen .
Simples
VM