#hylaeus

[drhoz]

#3421 - Hylaeus ruficeps ssp. kalamundae

A female, about to bubble nectar to reduce the water content.

A male, who had been investigating resin on Corymbia trunks, and small holes on a fallen log. He was probably doing the latter to find any females nesting in the holes, since these solitary bees nest in old beetle holes in wood, when they're not working hard at collecting nectar and pollen from Corymbia and other local eucalypts.

On the other hand, they've also been found mass nesting in polystrene insulation blocks. Kit Prendergast, expert on our local bees, found that the bees actually prefered the plastic to specially made wooden bee hotels.

The species is found from the Perth area south to Kojonup.

Lake Mealup, S. of Perth

[eupholus]

A masked bee (Hylaeus spp.) resting in a thistle flower

[usgsbiml]

I am in awe of wings. Light, the membranes enhanced by a web of structural but flexible tubing, strong but also bendy, placed just so to give strenght where needed but not weigh down . The hind and front wing can be connected together with small hooks or left separate. Tiny tiny hairs coat the surface of wings to help shed water. They get about 5 weeks of flight time before the accumulation of tears and damage cannot be overcome. Here is a male Hylaeus basilis near its end.

[ramskeleton]

Hylaeus sp. on silverleaf phacelia (Phacelia hastata)

[violetsandshrikes]

meet hylaeus longiceps

(source)

this bee is endemic to hawaii (oahu, molokai, lanai, and maui) and otherwise known as the longhead yellow-faced bee

it's found in coastal and dry shrubland habitats - we don't know much about their nesting behaviour, but they're solitary bees who use pre-existing holes, and are typically found at ground-level

in 2016 they became the first bees to ever be placed on the US endangered species list - they're under threat from habitat loss/degradation, loss of host plants, natural disasters and the introduction of exotic plants/animals/agricultural and recreational activities

[reanimateobjects]

[bee-safari-blog]

Masked bee - trust me, it’s in there, surrounded by the many flowers of Douglas spirea (Spirea douglasii). Must be nice to be amongst such a world of blooms. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #hylaeus #maskedbee #spireadouglasii #douglasspirea #bees #bugs #insects #macro #canonmacro #insects_of_our_world #mat_macro #kings_insects #found_on_flowers #macro_freaks #top_macro #macroclique #tgif_insects #macro_kings #photooftheday #beesofinstagram #pocket_insects #macro_brilliance #macro_perfection #top_macro #macro_highlight #macro_spotlight #electric_macro #igmw_macro #mat_macro_bees #onceupon_a_macro

[lilymeowart]

Bee Photo studies!

Two bees from the Hylaeus family, which is named after a centaur from greek mythology. This is a reference to their tiny fore-arms.

Do not repost/Use this art without permission