Defending His Turf - _TNY_1161
The female European wool carder bees (Anthidium manicatum) collect hairs of certain plants, like this house leek (Sempervivum tectorum) and use it when they build the nesting chamber for their offspring.
The males (like this one) therefore find some suitable plants and then defend them against not only other males but also against other insects like bumblebees and there are reports of them attacking dragonflies.
This is one of the very few bee species where the male is larger than the female.
I have not seen these guys since the summer of 2016, but this August, three years later, I found them again and have some nice shots to share with you.
Defending His Turf - _TNY_1161
The female European wool carder bees (Anthidium manicatum) collect hairs of certain plants, like this house leek (Sempervivum tectorum) and use it when they build the nesting chamber for their offspring.
The males (like this one) therefore find some suitable plants and then defend them against not only other males but also against other insects like bumblebees and there are reports of them attacking dragonflies.
This is one of the very few bee species where the male is larger than the female.
I have not seen these guys since the summer of 2016, but this August, three years later, I found them again and have some nice shots to share with you.