Limestone Wonders. Great Banded Furrow Bee, Halictus scabiose, on Centaurea scabiosa, Greater Knapweed, Sint-Pietersberg, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Since classical antiquity, Maastricht's Sint-Pietersberg has been noted for its high-quality lime- or marlstone. Its mines are famous, too, for the first discovery there in the late eighteenth century of a fossilised Mosasaur, a huge marine reptile which lived in or near the Meuse River 70 million years ago. Before that - say, between 130 to 80 million years ago - Bees had developed. Perhaps among them were forebears of our Halictus scabiose which lusts after Centaurea scabiosa, also a denizen of limestone and lime-rich soil. Both this Bee and Wildflower are relatively rare but can be found on this Mount if you watch for them.
Limestone Wonders. Great Banded Furrow Bee, Halictus scabiose, on Centaurea scabiosa, Greater Knapweed, Sint-Pietersberg, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Since classical antiquity, Maastricht's Sint-Pietersberg has been noted for its high-quality lime- or marlstone. Its mines are famous, too, for the first discovery there in the late eighteenth century of a fossilised Mosasaur, a huge marine reptile which lived in or near the Meuse River 70 million years ago. Before that - say, between 130 to 80 million years ago - Bees had developed. Perhaps among them were forebears of our Halictus scabiose which lusts after Centaurea scabiosa, also a denizen of limestone and lime-rich soil. Both this Bee and Wildflower are relatively rare but can be found on this Mount if you watch for them.