|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 21:47:11 GMT
This Bombus bumblebee was found bumbling around on the thyme (Bombus vosnesenskii).
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 21:48:53 GMT
The aptly named long-horned bee showing its lengthy antennae to good advantage. Here it is visiting thyme flowers.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 21:51:39 GMT
The Augochlora sweat bee is among the "oh wow" bees of the world. These shiny green metallic gems can be found in abundance in parts of North America and will often be among the last bees active in the fall.
Here it visits goldenrod (Solidago)
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 21:54:11 GMT
The elegant lines of a Lasioglossum sweat bee. This somewhat chestnut colored species appears in the latest days of the growing season. As with many bees it is difficult to determine the actual species. A great many bee species can be almost indiscernible to the eye but have microscopic characteristics that make a significant difference in their classification.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 21:57:18 GMT
A bee of the genus Dianthidium. Dianthidium bees are best known for their rather peculiar nests of pebble masses adhered by a resin-like substance. It is pictured here visiting a black-eyed susan flower (Rudbeckia).
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 22:05:38 GMT
One of the world's delightfully entertaining bees to watch, the colorful European wool carder bee, Anthidium manicatum. These bees were unintentionally imported to North America some time ago and are now common late summer visitors to gardens across the continent. North America is home to many native wool carder bee species, most of which emerge in spring or early summer.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 22:09:16 GMT
A black-tailed bumblebee (Bombus melanopygus) visiting one of the world's finest bee attracting flowers, globe thistle (Echinops banaticus).
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 22:18:03 GMT
Highlighting the eye of the metallic green bee (Agapostemon). Each eye is composed of about 3,000 tiny lenses.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 22:22:02 GMT
The male western leafcutter bee is often considered one of the most adorable bees, but when viewed head-on can have a rather intimidating appearance.
Here it is seen in Mexican sunflower.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 23:29:24 GMT
The left eye of a western leafcutter bee (Megachile periherta).
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 23:30:48 GMT
Looking into the eyes of a queen yellow-faced bumblebee (Bombus vosnesenski). One of North America's most economically important bees, these handsome furry wonders range along the west coast from Baja to British Columbia.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 23:34:19 GMT
Tripeolus bee - this handsome green-eyed bee is an enthusiastic visitor of Rudbeckia flowers (black-eyed susan) . They are a parasitic bee, laying their eggs in a vast variety of other species nests. This generalist trait makes them a very successful bee that occurs across much of the world.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 23:36:50 GMT
The small resin bee, Heriades spp. The "small" in their name is appropriate, as their average length can be about 7mm. This runs in contrast to their often very large cousins. These bees can be attracted to bee hotels with holes of about 1/8" - 3/16" diameters and are often very abundant.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 22, 2016 23:38:55 GMT
The Coelioxys cuckoo leafcutter bee, pictured here on gooseneck loosestrife. Their beautifully patterned hairy green eyes are among the most captivating of all bees. These bees are nest parasites of various leafcutter species. They lay their eggs in a leafcutter nest when the unsuspecting host is away, then their young use the provisions to develop. Although they are parasitic, their presence in small numbers is not to be of concern, as it indicates a healthy population of hosts.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 0:46:35 GMT
Among the all time most beautiful bees, Andrena prunorum. Its subtle contrasts of burnt orange and tan and its lively, gentle nature on a flower make it a delight to watch. They are found in gardens and meadows throughout the west coast of North America. It is pictured here on sea holly (Eryngium).
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 0:48:50 GMT
The western leafcutter bee (Megachile periherta), enjoying a face full of pollen on a blanket flower (Gaillardia).
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 5:10:24 GMT
Purple coneflower blooms in the garden and leafcutter bees come to visit (Megachile periherta)
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 5:15:55 GMT
The mint family of plants has no shortage of stunning flowers, but the most intriguing in my opinion is lemon mint, Monarda citriodora. Many bees would agree with me, such as this male fuzzy-horned bumblebee getting a fine nectar fill up from its numerous pink blossoms. This plant smells neither minty or lemony, so it's common name is a bit strange. No matter the name, it makes a stunning addition to any pollinator garden.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 5:18:13 GMT
The large, beautiful eyes of a Centris bee.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 5:21:04 GMT
Here is a full body shot of a Centris bee, photographed in Grants Pass, Oregon, USA. These are some of the most delightful bees to watch. They're fast, maneuverable, chunky bees with amazingly beautiful large eyes. Some species of Centris specialize in collecting plant oils instead of pollen which sometimes leads to them being called oil baron bees.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 5:25:35 GMT
An old nail hole in a wood block became a home for this leafcutter bee. This is likely a Megachile rotundata male. Called the alfalfa leafcutter bee, these are among the world's most managed bees. They are used extensively in pollinating alfalfa fields and in greenhouse agriculture. Often marketed for use in pollinating garden crops, they have also been found on mint and other ornamental flowers such as milkweed, globe thistle, or sea holly.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 5:29:20 GMT
Built for pollination - a Melissodes long-horned bee, female. As she moves about the flowers, pollen is collected on the long hairs of her hind legs. Once filled to capacity, she'll fly back to her nest site - a burrow in the ground - and store the pollen for her future offspring. Long-horned bees hold pollen very loosely amongst those hairs, allowing for efficient transfer of pollen between flowers. This runs contrary to the way honey bees hold their pollen in a tight gummy sack where very few of the grains can rub off to pollinate. This is often the reason that with some plants native bees can be far more efficient pollinators than the non-native honey bee.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 5:31:11 GMT
Looking almost every bit like a bumblebee with its thick hair and chunky stature, this fella often gets misidentified. This is a male digger bee - Hapropoda spp. These fast flying bees can be quite common around gardens, occasionally interfering with the actions of bumblebees visiting their patch of flowers. They are superb pollinators of numerous plants, and one species in eastern North America is agriculturally important as a blueberry pollinator. As their name suggests, they dig burrows for their nests in the ground.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 5:33:31 GMT
One of the world's smallest bees, this is a Perdita bee. Almost unnoticeable on the flower head of a daisy, these extraordinarily tiny bees are barely more than a couple of millimeters in length. They almost always specialize in pollinating a certain type of flower and time their emergence according to its blooms. Due to this and the fact they rarely travel far from their nests, they are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 5:38:47 GMT
One of the smallest and most brilliantly colored of the (Osmia) species, is the mason bee. It occupies minuscule nest holes 1/8 inch in diameter (as seen in the background) and is extraordinarily fast, entering and exiting the nest hole without the slightest wavering for alignment. This photo came only after weeks of study into how to capture an image of this rare and elusive bee.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 5:40:46 GMT
The eye of a nomad bee. Insect eyes are fascinating, and bees are no exception. These compound eyes consist of thousands of tiny lenses, each viewing the world its own way. The massive undertaking of interpreting all those individual images is no problem for a bee, for they can process visual information at a rate 15 times greater than human eyes, giving them the ability to see extraordinary detail in fast moving objects.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 19:16:11 GMT
Osmia aglaia, the raspberry bee. Here is a female on a blackberry flower.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 19:18:43 GMT
Andrena prunorum. A bee that lacks a common name (like most bees do), but I like to call it the orange-legged mining bee. These bees are among the most elegant to watch as they hold their wings outward like that of a wasp while foraging. This female is pictured here on a California lilac shrub.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 19:33:48 GMT
This little yellow puffball of a bee is a Bombus mixtus, or fuzzy-horned bumblebee. Males can be told apart from females most readily by their 13 segment antennae (females have 12) and the lack of pollen baskets on their hind legs.
|
|
|
Post by copperkid3 on Dec 23, 2016 19:35:39 GMT
A mining bee (Andrena spp.) on a pyracantha flower cluster. Pyracantha blooms eventually become clusters of small berries that are attractive to look at and equally desired by birds. Often we think of bees providing us with pollination for our own food, but without bees much of the wild world as we know it wouldn't exist as well.
|
|