Dropped off the prey, covering up the nest before next round. 2/2

About six seconds to dig open her nest hole and take the fly inside and soon after just a few seconds to cover it up again before the next round. Oxybelus uniglumis wasps are impressively efficient. [Alameda, CA 4-18-26] #entomology #wasps 1/2

Oh sure go ahead and laugh. But look, she’s a queen. This foraging nonsense is for underlings. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ [Alameda, CA 4-18-26] #bees #bumblebees #nativebees

Ah yes the white spots are pollen.

You mean the dark spots on the eyes? No, that’s just an optical effect. Bees don’t have single “eyes” the same way we do - it’s a bunch of individual lenses acting together. Sometimes the lighting makes it look like they have a single pupil, other times more accurately like this.

A small gray/green worker bee perched on my thumb. On her right eye is a group of tiny semi-transparent pink phoretic mites.

A small gray/green worker bee perched on my thumb. On her right eye is a group of tiny semi-transparent pink phoretic mites.

A small gray/green worker bee perched on my thumb. On her right eye is a group of tiny semi-transparent pink phoretic mites.

A small gray/green worker bee perched on my thumb. On her right eye is a group of tiny semi-transparent pink phoretic mites.

This Halictus tripartitus worker (they also come in larger reproductive gynes/queens) once again reminded me that phoretic mites are scaled to various bee sizes. Look closely at her eye and you’ll see a group of infinitesimally tiny mites. [Alameda, CA 4-16-26] #bees #nativebees

Rock purslane, a drought tolerant perennial from Chile is popular around here with both gardeners and native bees. A quality photo bonus is the striking color of its pollen. This Agapostemon subtilior is appreciating both nectar and pollen. [Alameda, CA 4-14-26] #bees #nativebees

Metallic gray/green bee very thoroughly covered with yellow pollen on California poppy flower. California poppies are usually completely orange but many like this one have half-yellow petals.

Metallic gray/green bee very thoroughly covered with yellow pollen on California poppy flower. California poppies are usually completely orange but many like this one have half-yellow petals.

Metallic gray/green bee very thoroughly covered with yellow pollen on California poppy flower. California poppies are usually completely orange but many like this one have half-yellow petals.

Metallic gray/green bee very thoroughly covered with yellow pollen on California poppy flower. California poppies are usually completely orange but many like this one have half-yellow petals.

Bees are bad at camouflage? Well then how do you exp- wait, where did she go? 🤔 🥷[Dialictus bee + California poppy, Alameda, CA 4-14-26] #bees #nativebees

Sometimes the pollen grooming situation is a lot and requires five limbs to try to resolve. [Alameda, CA 4-14-26] #bees #honeybees

Small black and white bee with bright yellow pollen perched on my thumb.

Small black and white bee with bright yellow pollen perched on my thumbnail.

Small black and white bee with bright yellow pollen perched on my thumbnail.

Small black and white bee with bright yellow pollen perched on my thumb.

And speaking of “little”… Lasioglossum kincaidii, Smaller Than You Think, A Thumbparison Science Presentation (in fairness this one was a bit smaller than usual). As always, I do not have giant thumbs… 🙃 [Alameda, CA 4-13-26] #bees #nativebees

We had lots of rain the past few days until the break yesterday. There was still a chilly wind as you can see but this little Lasioglossum kincaidii would not be deterred. [Alameda, CA 4-13-26] #bees #nativebees

Hylaeus bees were a very reliable sighting on the island and now I keep seeing fewer of them. So I am always happy to spot one. HellaBeeNerd Lunchtime Walks Presents: Hylaeus punctatus vexed by Varied Carpet Beetle. Presented in SloMoVision. [Alameda, CA 4-6-26] #bees #nativebees

When your commitment to the bee impersonation bit is so strong you fly around wearing a full fur coat even though it’s hot and pollen keeps sticking to it. [Narcissus bulb fly, Alameda, CA 4-4-26] #entomology #macro #flies

Almost all the pollen is gone from the California Flannelbush flowers, but they are still pouring out nectar for visitors like this small but fearsome Oxybelus uniglumis wasp. [Alameda, CA 4-3-26] #macro #wasps

I really enjoy Narcissus Bulb Flies. They’re large, they wear flashy clothes and they’re bemusingly territorial. They’re unmistakable from 20 feet away. And they love Geranium incanum like all the native bees do. Presented in SloMoVision. [Alameda, CA 3-31-26] #pollinators #flies

Not rain nor shine nor pollen in the eye will slow down an Agapostemon subtilior conducting her business. Ok yes rain will but that’s not nearly as catchy sounding. [Alameda, CA 3-30-26] #bees #nativebees

When you’re that big it helps to rev up the engine before takeoff. [Xylocopa sonorina male, Alameda, CA 3-26-26] #bees #nativebees

Bees aren’t the only ones that sometimes need an elaborate grooming routine before flying off to resume their business. [Spotless lady beetle, Cycloneda sanguinea, Alameda, CA 3-21-26] #entomology #macro #beetles

In today’s episode of “When you’re so small California poppy anthers are like tree trunks to you”… this little Dialictus bee. [Alameda, CA 3-20-26] #bees #nativebees

Our local Andrena bees are officially on the move. [Alameda, CA 3-20-26] #bees #nativebees

Black and white Lasioglossum kincaidii female bee on yellow flower.

Gray/green and white Halictus tripartitus female bee on California poppy.

Small metallic green Dialictus female bee on California poppy.

It’s officially warm enough that the small and very small bees are on the move. Larger to smaller, Lasioglossum kincaidii, Halictus tripartitus and Dialictus, all females. I spotted two Agapostemon subtilior, but they did not 📷 cooperate. [Alameda, CA 3-13-26] #bees #nativebees

Sure, it might not seem like a high ground perch to you, but high ground is relative. This one is a feared predator so must know what they’re doing. [Alameda, CA 3-10-26]

[Xylocopa sonorina female, Alameda, CA 2-28-26] #bees #nativebees

Our beloved fence pets are back. [Xylocopa sonorina male, Alameda, CA 2-28-26] #bees #nativebees

A green lacewing larva has captured a lady beetle larva. Both are voracious predators, but is seems the lacewing larva a bit more so.

Predator vs. Predator: The Reckoning. It seems Aphid Lions (green lacewing larvae) are just a bit more predatory than lady beetle larvae (Aphid Gators?). Don’t remember seeing this scene before. [Ventura, CA 2-15-26] #entomology #macro

The female dodged me today but not long after a male appeared, taking a break from turf patrol. Presented in quarter-speed-o-vision. [Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex, Alameda, CA 2-3-26] #bees #nativebees

The Very Hungry Monarch [Alameda, CA 1-31-26] #butterflies

I spotted a Foothill Carpenter Bee yesterday but didn’t manage to get a picture. I went to another spot I knew they like to frequent today and sure enough... [Alameda, CA 1-30-26] #bees #nativebees

Haven’t seen any native bees since the week of rains we had but now that it’s sunny again we do have Monarchs for entertainment… [Alameda, CA 1-13-26] #entomology #pollinators #butterflies

Black and yellow striped bumble bee on pink manzanita flowers.

Black and yellow striped bumble bee on pink manzanita flowers.

Christmas Eve had a sunny mid-day in a wet week and the neighborhood blooming manzanitas brought out the Black-tailed Bumble Bees. [Bombus melanopygus, Alameda, CA 12-24-25] #bees #nativebees #bumblebees