#solitarybee

[usgsbiml]

Manuelia postica - One of the common Chilean species of bees, this one was collected somewhere in southern Chile while on expedition last fall with Laurence Packer.  Photograph taken by Anders Croft.  

[dragonfantasiessherryhumeart]

This structure was designed for solitary bees. Not all live within a hive and many people are trying to help slow the decline in bee numbers as much as possible. The most important thing is to ban the use of neonicotinoids as insecticides all around the world - before we lose these important pollinators all together! 😢 🐝💛🐝💛🐝💛🐝💛🐝💛🐝💛🐝💛#beehouse #beehome #solitarybee #bees #design #structure #savethebees #pollinator #shape #home #invention #ecology #environment #rant

[bee-safari-blog]

Long-horned bee of the Melissodes genus, female. Seen here visiting blanket flower (Gaillardia). Hairy little monsters of pollination. #bees #insects #insects_macro #nature #melissodes #longhornedbee #gaillardia #blanketflower #pollinators #solitarybee #macroworld_tr #macroclique #insects_of_our_world #insects_of_instagram #kings_insects #mat_macro #macro_perfection #macro_x #buzz #beegarden #beesofinstagram #pollen

[indefenseofplants]

A tiny bee checking out the flowers of a whorled loosestrife (Lysimachia quadrifolia). #plants #plantnerd #plantoftheday #botany #botanical #botanizing #flowers #floweroftheday #NorthCarolina #naturelovers #nativeplants #plantoftheday #pollinators #appalachia #appalachianmountains #ecology #bee #solitarybee #nativebees #forest

[bee-safari-blog]

Andrena prunorum - Most people will disagree with me, but I hold this as the world's most beautiful bee. Its subtle burnt orange and tan is one of nature's most balanced contrasts, and its orange wing veins highlight its humble appearance as it moves about the flowers, frequently flaring its wings out in the fashion of a wasp. This one paired itself nicely with a sea holly (Eryngium) flower. #bees #abejas #wildlifephotography #seaholly #pollinators #photooftheday #photoarena_nature #macroworld_tr #conservation #andrena #show_us_macro #macrophotography #canon7dmkii #canon60mmmacro #wildbee #nativebee #solitarybee

[drcellophanesposts]

✂️ The Great Leaf Heist of 2025 🐝

OMG, you guys, I was just out vibing with my potted plants and caught this little leaf-cutting bandit in the act! Like, seriously? This is not a drill.

First off, watch the video—it's wild. This little bee (which I'm pretty sure is a leafcutter bee! 🤓) is literally chewing a perfect semicircle out of one of my beautiful, heart-shaped leaves. It's like a tiny, buzzy hole punch. 😡 But also, low-key impressive?

I know what you're thinking: "Is it eating the leaf?" Nope! They don't eat the leaves. They are basically nature's tiny interior decorators. They roll these perfect little cut-out pieces up and fly them back to their nest (usually in hollow stems or little holes). They use them to build the walls and lining for the tiny cells where they lay their eggs. Imagine a baby bee cocoon lined with fresh plant fiber! ✨

So, while my plant now looks like it lost a tiny, organized turf war, I guess I have to respect the hustle. It's just a solitary bee trying to be the best mom it can be, even if it has to commit plant vandalism to do it.

Should I be mad? Yes. Am I kind of obsessed with this tiny insect construction worker? Also yes.

Anyway, if you see leaves that look like they've been attacked by a paper crafting machine, you know who to blame. They're basically the corporate raiders of the garden, but instead of stocks, they're stealing foliage.

[pogomcl]

Violet Carpenter bee, Xylocopa violacea Canon 7D EFS 60 2.8 f/5 1/320 iso: 160 Prague, Czech Republic 7/17/2023

[pixie1013]

Most bees, approximately 75%, are solitary, like beneficial pollinators Mason and Leaf Cutter bees. 🐝 They are vital pollinators and require individual holes either dug in soil or found in wood and abandoned beetle holes, even opting for packing woodpecker holes with clay, eggs, paralyzed caterpillars, spders, and other things. They toil all summer, and as long into fall as their species persists, looking for places to pack with tiny springbabies! Worldwide, there are about 20,000 species of solitary bees. (I think that I once read there are 35000 in the US and over 400 in my state (SC) alone!) They are not aggressive, they are actually pretty sweet, especially if you plant bee balm! It's like having a tiny, fragrant, flowering bee bar. 🍺🐝🍻 They get drunk on it and will be very friendly while tipsy 😁😆 Every year I plan to make my own little bee houses 🐝 🏘️ but then I just but replacements. I put the smaller one near my raised beds, and the larger one behind the garden plots, that way pollinators are already near my flowering plants! It's never too late in the spring or summer to hang one, please consider hanging one to help the solitary bees where you live! 🙏🏼 #savethebees #bees #solitarybees #solitarybee #masonbees #beefarm #beehives #beehome #beehouse #🐝 #conservation #workwithnature #sustainable #sustainability #doallyoucan #leafcutterbee #leafcutterbees #apidae #apoidae #hymenoptera #groundbees #groundwasps #PixielandFarm #giveback #becreative #entomology #ecology #garden #flowerbed #vegetablegarden (at Pixieland Farm) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNVoJ1qnef_/?igshid=btrfuazpzm4f