Take Off - _TNY_9273
A well-timed shot of a male European wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) right as he takes off from the flower of a lamb's ears (Stachys byzantina).
This flower is part of his turf and he wil patrol it intensely and aggressively chase away anything which isn't a female of his species from them.
This species can hover and on several occasions, I've observed them actually looking at me mid air, like trying to decide if it should have a go at chasing me away as well.
The males of this species are noticeably larger than the females (which is a rarity among bees) and also actually armed - they have a row of black spikes on their abdomen (a couple of them are noticable in this shot if you zoom in) which they use when fighting of other males or other intruders.
A closeup on his face with nice detail on the compound eyes here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53969775482/
An album with nearly 90 shots of these amazing bees here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/albums/72157667862870066/
Take Off - _TNY_9273
A well-timed shot of a male European wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) right as he takes off from the flower of a lamb's ears (Stachys byzantina).
This flower is part of his turf and he wil patrol it intensely and aggressively chase away anything which isn't a female of his species from them.
This species can hover and on several occasions, I've observed them actually looking at me mid air, like trying to decide if it should have a go at chasing me away as well.
The males of this species are noticeably larger than the females (which is a rarity among bees) and also actually armed - they have a row of black spikes on their abdomen (a couple of them are noticable in this shot if you zoom in) which they use when fighting of other males or other intruders.
A closeup on his face with nice detail on the compound eyes here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53969775482/
An album with nearly 90 shots of these amazing bees here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/albums/72157667862870066/