Blue Pollen - _TNY_0465
Looking at this shot of a female Gwynne's mining bee (Andrena bicolor), it is easy to understand where the scientific name "bicolor" comes from.
The really interesting colour here though is of the pollen on its hind legs. The blue hue can tell us that this one has been gathering pollen from the siberian squill (Scilla siberica), a blue flower which unlike most other flowers actually have deep blue pollen. It is an common flower in spring here, often creating great blue bands across people's lawns.
For an older shot of another Gwynne's mining bee on a siberian squill where the blue pollen is showing while still on the flower, please have a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/34755557270/
Blue Pollen - _TNY_0465
Looking at this shot of a female Gwynne's mining bee (Andrena bicolor), it is easy to understand where the scientific name "bicolor" comes from.
The really interesting colour here though is of the pollen on its hind legs. The blue hue can tell us that this one has been gathering pollen from the siberian squill (Scilla siberica), a blue flower which unlike most other flowers actually have deep blue pollen. It is an common flower in spring here, often creating great blue bands across people's lawns.
For an older shot of another Gwynne's mining bee on a siberian squill where the blue pollen is showing while still on the flower, please have a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/34755557270/