Awhile ago, I spotted a bee and immediately dropped my limb debris. I walked over and discovered the coolest nest made of tiny pebbles. I took LOTS of photos of the bee, working away on the nest. Experts on iNaturalist so far say my bee is a member of the Tribe Anthidiini (mason, leafcutter, carder and resin bees). My bee is Dianthidium, specifically Dianthidium texanum. Here's a similar nest.
I walked back over to check on her and observed a SECOND bee hovering nearby. When she came out of the nest, he jumped on her. What was going on, I wondered. Well.....
A little hanky panky, that's what was going on.
But not for long. He finished, then flew off. And she went right back to work. So interesting to watch! Not to mention the cool nest.
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UPDATE JUNE 13, 2019
Photos below show how she's enlarged her nest.
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UPDATE JUNE 19, 2019
Photos below show an entrance.
5 comments:
Fascinating! Never heard nor have seen this kind of solitary bee. I have a few of the funny little round guys, the Hairy Footed Flower Bee (!), zooming around. So far have seen just the females, which are black with yellow waist band. Males are reported to be cinnamon colored. Cute name, eh?
Never heard of your bee, Sandy. I'll have to look it up! Cool!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05VOGeCy9C0
Hairy Footed Flower Bee (female solitary bee) sealing nest.
That's cool!!
Remarkable architecture! No landscape plant. No hole. Just a few grains of sand from the site.
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