![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJxDqhWSbGxejSQM7eQW0tR3OhhXJkcvytOFFeojlYlretM-YwLX947Pq_Lyu8khk44gSL7mQWwu0DdgIcCyRkPhYSFOggeYE6xT0dMEo4gTbA6sSjnBocucK1gKMC8AsRbzTWNalto8/s400/shinyback.jpg)
Maybe I'm just noticing a wider variety of bees, but this seems to be a good year for bee biodiversity in Vancouver. I was in my neighbor's fantastic garden and her tiny climbing roses were chalk a block with bumble bees and leaf cutters. This bee (a megachilid, I think) didn't look too healthy--it was all tuckered out, which meant I could take these photos. I've never seen a leaf cutter bee (if that's what it is) with such a bald back and REALLY hairy legs. I am assuming it is male pattern baldness. Anyone out there know if this is true? Usually I see leaf cutters with more delicate legs and they are really hairy under their abdomens.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXifksao-BR8ONXfYufNkW84AEx-vzTZGMsnC0ln6Jqzrz7gXGqPzxgxvIdj_T9MGizZae01SePuj-ROXpN0pYhas_pGnUM-1KWf8UWG31Vpte8xACks_KFNkT-928fSfYSDz0nOBkGE/s400/beehoe.jpg)
You can see the scale here as it is perched on the top handle of a shovel. It's a bit larger than a honey bee and smaller than a large bumble bee.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEien_MUlJk9wN6JrV0G8Uqaa2GUGx6iXaShaCvXJnm_u_6lFDVgaBEFh_5yFJQjw2vDsvpf6u8fbyg6mF2qKTmx6WV17145QSOZu0y_b8bfEWtxNL8k0NFtXJ5re4FLWq7vkcezwuHGlk4/s400/bumblerose.jpg)
These are the roses with their surprisingly dark pollen. The bumble bees were absolutely loaded down with the rust-colored pollen. This one is up to her elbows in it!
No comments:
Post a Comment