Doubly Rare. Halictus scabiosae, Great Banded Furrow-Bee, on Marsh Thistle, Cirsium palustre, Blerick-Venlo, The Netherlands
A couple of years ago it was decided to make the Meuse a safer river. To that end channels and 'bays' were dug to 'dilute' the waters in case of a deluge. One of the digs led to the formation of a spit in the river between Blerick and Venlo. It's a wild place, a nature reserve and a free-roaming area for Galloways. And of course for hikers such as your Obedient Servant.
Always lots to be seen here. Today I noticed these Great Banded Furrow-Bees visiting a Marsh Thistle. Obviously that Thistle likes these grounds which should be wetter than they are in the drought we're experiencing. Those Bees have been making inroads into the fauna of the northern Low Counties. Not long ago they were seen primarily along the Meuse 'down south' around Maastricht. But now they've been spotted more to the north and also here in Blerick-Venlo. Take a look at those beautiful double-banded markings!
Doubly Rare. Halictus scabiosae, Great Banded Furrow-Bee, on Marsh Thistle, Cirsium palustre, Blerick-Venlo, The Netherlands
A couple of years ago it was decided to make the Meuse a safer river. To that end channels and 'bays' were dug to 'dilute' the waters in case of a deluge. One of the digs led to the formation of a spit in the river between Blerick and Venlo. It's a wild place, a nature reserve and a free-roaming area for Galloways. And of course for hikers such as your Obedient Servant.
Always lots to be seen here. Today I noticed these Great Banded Furrow-Bees visiting a Marsh Thistle. Obviously that Thistle likes these grounds which should be wetter than they are in the drought we're experiencing. Those Bees have been making inroads into the fauna of the northern Low Counties. Not long ago they were seen primarily along the Meuse 'down south' around Maastricht. But now they've been spotted more to the north and also here in Blerick-Venlo. Take a look at those beautiful double-banded markings!