Specialized - _TNY_6605
This little lady with the nicely spotted eyes and *very* hairy legs on a thistle in the Käringboda Nature Reserve is a female yellow-loosestrife bee (Macropis europaea). As the name indicates, they are specialized in gathering pollen and, rather uniquiely, floral oils, from the yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris) to provision the nest for the young with. They still find nectar from other flowers though and here a thistle had to do.
These are quite easy to tell the sex of as only the females have those very fuzzy white thighs.
For several shots of the male bee, look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/50890744503/
Specialized - _TNY_6605
This little lady with the nicely spotted eyes and *very* hairy legs on a thistle in the Käringboda Nature Reserve is a female yellow-loosestrife bee (Macropis europaea). As the name indicates, they are specialized in gathering pollen and, rather uniquiely, floral oils, from the yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris) to provision the nest for the young with. They still find nectar from other flowers though and here a thistle had to do.
These are quite easy to tell the sex of as only the females have those very fuzzy white thighs.
For several shots of the male bee, look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/50890744503/