Zero Foreplay - _TNY_4347
Female bees are nearly always larger than the males, but the European wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) is an exception.
Since the males keep a territory around plants with hairs which the females use for the nests, him having his genes passed on is dependant on how well he manages to ward off other males - as well as any other insects interested in the flowers. This has led to the males being significally larger.
Here I was trying to photograph a female who landed on the flowering house leeks (Sempervivum tectorum) when a male spotted her as well and zoomed in and landed on top for a very brief - and not very romantic - encounter.
The entire mating process is over within like five seconds before he takes off again, leaving the female sitting there looking like she wondered what the hell happened.
My album with these guys are growing - at around 40 shots at the moment and can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/albums/72157667862870066
Zero Foreplay - _TNY_4347
Female bees are nearly always larger than the males, but the European wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) is an exception.
Since the males keep a territory around plants with hairs which the females use for the nests, him having his genes passed on is dependant on how well he manages to ward off other males - as well as any other insects interested in the flowers. This has led to the males being significally larger.
Here I was trying to photograph a female who landed on the flowering house leeks (Sempervivum tectorum) when a male spotted her as well and zoomed in and landed on top for a very brief - and not very romantic - encounter.
The entire mating process is over within like five seconds before he takes off again, leaving the female sitting there looking like she wondered what the hell happened.
My album with these guys are growing - at around 40 shots at the moment and can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/albums/72157667862870066