Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Backyard Buzz—Beyond the Honeybee

Photo:  Donna L. Watkins
View Enlarged Image
Metallic Green Bee
(Agapostemon, Halictid Bee, Halictidae)
on Black-eyed Susan Flower
by Christie Peterson

Honeybees are only one representative (and an alien one at that) of a fascinating and varied group of insects.

Their cousins include the teddy bears of the insect world, the bumblebees, bright-colored sweat bees, tiny carpenter bees, mooching cuckoo bees, and the popular mason bees.

Last year I made it a goal to notice and then photograph as many bee species as possible in my own backyard. I was staggered by the variety—I still haven’t identified them all.  

Here are just a few of the kinds I discovered.


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