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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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