The Blackest Megachile. At least in Eastern North America. But also probably in the world because nothing could be blacker. M. xylocopoides vacuums pollen on the discs of large yellow composites. This one from Florida.
Megachile rotundata. Useful for pollinating alfalfa, found in cities and waste places everywhere, lives for sweet clover bloom. It and its cousins M. apicallis and M. pusilla (or M. concinna if you rather) are the smallest of the megs in North America and all hail (hale?) from Europe. The native plants they love in Europe are our weeds and so they love being here too. This is a sweet little male. Photo by Sierra Williams and Elizabeth Garcia did the Shopping.
The Work of Bees Last Fall Leads to Beautiful Flowers Now
The Work of Bees Last Fall Leads to Beautiful Flowers Now discusses the role of last year pollinators in helping to bring us crops and wildflowers this year. It shows readers one of the many types of bees found in Florida.
Eager Bee
Last fall before the first frost, the area was crazy alive with bees. There were many different types of them stocking up on nectar and pollen to get them or their hive or nest through the winter. There were lots of flowers, especially blackjacks, that time of year. This was one of many bees that were buzzing around from flower to flower not only eating, but also carrying pollen…