The weird possible YB clutch?? Expert help appreciated

[Mrl249]

I'm going to start from the beginning.

In December/ January we paired a normal x bumble bee. In April we hatched out 2 bumble bees 2 pastels and 2 normal from that clutch.
Both of those bumble bees came out looking real nice but they have both browned out very quickly. One was sold but this is the one I have left,


During this time we also had eggs in the incubator from a different normal x bumble bee clutch (Clutch #2). These hatched in May and they came out WAY brighter and with a weird flaming pattern just like a YB. And when I saw the last bee come out I just knew it might have a 3rd gene.


This is the first bumble bee from Clutch #1 compared to clutch #2. Member only a month age difference.

And this is what we believe to be our Bumble Belly from clutch #2


This is his sister which we believe is a Pastel YB



This is just a regular pastel from clutch #2 next to the poss Pastel YB

Clutch #1 Group shot (missing the sold bumble bee)

Clutch #2 Group shot


The mom from clutch 1


The possible YB mom from clutch 2. We are going to try and prove her out next year.



And of course the father to all those Bumble Bees 👏



Last but not
least, just thought id show the male YB she will be paired with next year.


Any opinions on the YB gene would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for looking!

[Mrl249]

OH AND the bumble bee fathered his last clutch for the season, which is in the incubator now. 7 good eggs from a bright normal (compared to all my other normal girls) . Here she is

[Annarose15]

Nice, good luck proving her!

[Mrl249]

Nice, good luck proving her!

Thank you. It's going to be a longgg year ha.

[snakesRkewl]

I'm on the fence, not sure I see yb in the mom but she might be a really low quality yb ...
How about some better pictures of the pos yb mom in brighter light?

[Mrl249]

I'm on the fence, not sure I see yb in the mom but she might be a really low quality yb ...
How about some better pictures of the pos yb mom in brighter light?

Will do. She is quite the feisty one.

p

[S.I.R.]

Not really seeing a YB in the mom. The bee is definitely much brighter, but I think its just a variation. We have some really bright bees that hatched a few weeks ago. And in my experience, pastel YBs are usually a lot brighter. I could easily be wrong, just my opinion. I do think it is worth trying to prove out though. Good luck!

[eatgoodfood]

I had a pastel yellowbelly that looked a lot like that, except she was an adult, and a bit browned out, but yours had a lot of orange so will likely do the same. I have no idea what she looked like when she was a baby, so I cannot compare that way.

[h00blah]

I don't think it's a YB. I think you got something else on your hands . Looks very cool! I love what it did to that bee! Most people aren't a fan of dots, and I'm typically one of 'em, but that dotted bee is SMOKIN. IMO, I'd rather see zero dots or a good consistent amount of dots .

[PitOnTheProwl]

Mike, Those are some smoking bees
I really don't see YB in her either but the bell shot makes me wonder

Is that your first clutch off of her??