Leaf-cutter Bee in Flight
The Leaf-cutter Bee is a Solitary Bee. We watched this one for a while, flying in with a piece of leaf, carried underneath it's body and disappearing into a hole in a rotten piece of wood.
They cut neat, semi-circular pieces of leaf out of rose and wisteria leaves and line individual cells for their eggs, which are sealed off by more pieces of leaf. Within each cell, the egg is provisioned with pollen to provide the hatched larvae with essentials to grow. The larvae will then pupate into adults in autumn and hibernate inside their cells over winter.
Many thanks to all who take the time to view, comment or fave my images.
Leaf-cutter Bee in Flight
The Leaf-cutter Bee is a Solitary Bee. We watched this one for a while, flying in with a piece of leaf, carried underneath it's body and disappearing into a hole in a rotten piece of wood.
They cut neat, semi-circular pieces of leaf out of rose and wisteria leaves and line individual cells for their eggs, which are sealed off by more pieces of leaf. Within each cell, the egg is provisioned with pollen to provide the hatched larvae with essentials to grow. The larvae will then pupate into adults in autumn and hibernate inside their cells over winter.
Many thanks to all who take the time to view, comment or fave my images.