Glass Eyes - _TNY_3169
The female European wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) is unusually for bees, smaller than the male.
Here she is just having a sip of nectar from the lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina), but it is no accident that she has landed on this particular plant.
You see, this species use the hair from plants for their nests - and plants don't get much hairier than the lamb's ear!
If you want more shots of this, my favourite bug, then here's a 40+ shot album with just this species: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/albums/72157667862870066
Glass Eyes - _TNY_3169
The female European wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) is unusually for bees, smaller than the male.
Here she is just having a sip of nectar from the lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina), but it is no accident that she has landed on this particular plant.
You see, this species use the hair from plants for their nests - and plants don't get much hairier than the lamb's ear!
If you want more shots of this, my favourite bug, then here's a 40+ shot album with just this species: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/albums/72157667862870066