david allio

Bombus impatiens | ©2013 David Allio

Is this really a digital photograph of two Bumble Bees?

I ask because it leads to a more rudimentary question of how do we know what we know?

Without getting into Kant, his Critique of Pure Reason, and a discussion of his four main perspectives of knowledge, have you ever thought about how you know what you know?

When this exposure was made, I was confident that the subject of this digital photograph is the Common Eastern Bumble Bee Bombus impatiens. After all, I have grown up seeing these yellow and black objects identified as "Bumble Bees." Based on experience, therefore I assumed these were Bumble Bees. However, while preparing the caption it was suggested that this may actually be the Narcissus Fly Merodon equestris, a look-alike for the Bumble Bee.

So which is it? If it is a look-alike, how do you really know?