Hella Bee Nerd

Learning about native bees. Now also on 🦋.

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

In this edition of Advanced Bee Grooming 101 - this male Colletes cellophane bee grooming with two of three legs from one side. Quality skills, would recommend. [Alameda, CA 5-23-26] #bees #nativebees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

Why are female Melissodes longhorn bees always in a hurry? Because they deal with crazy traffic like this all the time. Dodging a male longhorn bee... who's being chased by a male Megachile perihirta, Western Leafcutter Bee. [Alameda, CA 5-22-26] #bees #nativebees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

3) This Lasioglossum kincaidii. I think she’s a female because males have longer sniffing sticks (although this one losing half of one does add to the impression). They don’t have very prominent pollen-collecting scopa. 🤔 [Alameda, CA 5-29-26] #bees #nativebees 3/3

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

Too chilly and drizzly for native bees at lunchtime today but these three boldly sallied forth anyway (and got stuck waiting for a warmup):

1) This unusually small male Longhorn bee. He’s the runt of the litter, he’s not the quitter. [Alameda, CA 5-29-26] #bees #nativebees 1/3

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

2) This Agapostemon subtilior female. They’re extremely dedicated to their work. I spotted two more later when it warmed up for a bit. [Alameda, CA 5-29-26] #bees #nativebees 2/3

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

Hylaeus masked bees are out and about in proper numbers now - enough to cause the occasional traffic jam. [Alameda, CA 5-18-26] #bees #nativebees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

Female Melissodes Longhorn bees tend to be both hurrying and skittish because they’re outnumbered by a half-dozen frantic males so this one was unusually cooperative to let me record this clip like that. [Alameda, CA 5-26-26] #bees #nativebees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

Your latest occasional reminder that we all remain jealous of bees' superior backscratching skills, as demonstrated by this Halictus tripartitus. [Oakland CA 5-17-2026] #bees #nativebees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

Like trying to eat two corndogs at the same time, the this little Dialictus bee getting a bit greedy story. [Alameda, CA 3-29-2026] #bees #nativebees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

Someone told the bees about #WorldBeeDay because on my way home from work after 6pm the native bees in all weight categories were still active. [Alameda, CA 5-20-26] #bees #nativebees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

@growplantsgrow That’s quite the crop of Eastern Carpenter Bees! Aka the ones named after your state. 🙂

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

For this #WorldBeeDay, I present this noted innovator Ceratina small carpenter bee who thought “Collecting pollen with six limbs is fine, but if I also use my tongue as a seventh-“ Presented in actual frantic speed vision. [Alameda, CA 5-15-26] #bees #nativebees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

Always an unusual sight - a live honey bee drone. They never survive long once ejected from the hive so it must be nearby. I always see them in the same spot. At least he won’t get the indignity of getting stepped on on the sidewalk. [Alameda, CA 5-18-26] #bees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

The carpenter bees were already on the move just after 7am this morning. They can sense a 80+ degree day coming. 🥵 [Alameda, CA 5-18-26] #bees #nativebees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

I’ve been seeing fewer Hylaeus bees the last few years but it looks like they’re returning in more usual numbers this year. As always around the neighborhood, Aeonium arboreum flowers are their favorite. [Alameda, CA 5-14-26] #bees #nativebees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

Notable lunchtime bee observation of the day: my first male Halictus tripartitus of the year. The previous earliest were on May 25th last year. [Alameda, CA 5-12-26] #bees #nativebees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

Both the males in these videos are fellow longhorns.

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

“You know what would be great for The Socials? The first female Longhorn appearing on Mothers Day.” “I got you, fam.” There she is, dodging the half dozen males and the combative male Leafcutter chasing them all on that patch of sidewalk. [Alameda, CA 5-10-26] #bees #nativebees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

I am regularly seeing male Longhorn bees in the usual spots, so females emerging must be just days away now… [Alameda, CA 5-8-26] #bees #nativebees

[Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees]

I’m not saying this Halictus tripartitus and I are besties, but we are pals. [Alameda, CA 5-7-26] #bees #nativebees