DSC_0516_Tiny bee foraging
Sweat bee
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Initial tentative ID was something in the Perdita genus (containing about 600 species), given that it's about half the size of a grain of rice. Probably the smallest bee I've ever seen. The metallic brass color is interesting, but it seemed too small to be a sweat bee (plus, I thought that the metallic sweat bees are green). Feeding on Cleveland sage. Pollen grains and droplets of nectar are both available for this little one.
Perditas and sweat bees alike are some of the smallest bees in existence anywhere (smaller than the eyes of some other bees), but they are, nonetheless, very important pollinators, and can carry a surprising amount of the grains on their bodies). They, along with hoverflies, are small enough to some flowers that larger bees cannot. Ironically, though, they, like, carpenter bees can also engage in nectar-robbing -- from flowers that are too deep. This sage blossom is wonderful for this little one, as the well-exposed anthers have pollen and droplets of nectar a little further down the stamen, available to a variety of bee species. Flat flowers like yarrow are also readily accessible forage for many kinds of bees, flies, butterflies and other pollinators.
There are about 1000 species of sweat bees in the US.
DSC_0516_Tiny bee foraging
Sweat bee
=================
Initial tentative ID was something in the Perdita genus (containing about 600 species), given that it's about half the size of a grain of rice. Probably the smallest bee I've ever seen. The metallic brass color is interesting, but it seemed too small to be a sweat bee (plus, I thought that the metallic sweat bees are green). Feeding on Cleveland sage. Pollen grains and droplets of nectar are both available for this little one.
Perditas and sweat bees alike are some of the smallest bees in existence anywhere (smaller than the eyes of some other bees), but they are, nonetheless, very important pollinators, and can carry a surprising amount of the grains on their bodies). They, along with hoverflies, are small enough to some flowers that larger bees cannot. Ironically, though, they, like, carpenter bees can also engage in nectar-robbing -- from flowers that are too deep. This sage blossom is wonderful for this little one, as the well-exposed anthers have pollen and droplets of nectar a little further down the stamen, available to a variety of bee species. Flat flowers like yarrow are also readily accessible forage for many kinds of bees, flies, butterflies and other pollinators.
There are about 1000 species of sweat bees in the US.