Common Eastern Bumblebee

Thanks a bunch.

I can see why you would say that. The trouble is really that there are a lot of different bumble bee species with different color patterns which are not represented in the Peterson guide. The main distinction between the carpenter bee in the guide and your bee is that yours has a hairy black abdomen rather than the shiny, smooth black abdomen of the carpenter bee. It can be tricky to tell bumbles from carpenter bees until you get a feel for the differences. Until then we're happy to help!

Holy Moley, my Peterson's Field Guide to the Insects of North America has got it all wrong.

http://www.zone-vx.com/Peterson.jpg

yes, is a male bumblebee

This is actually the common eastern bumble bee, Bombus impatiens.