Hella Bee Nerd

[Xylocopa sonorina female, Alameda, CA 2-28-26] #bees #nativebees

Our beloved fence pets are back. [Xylocopa sonorina male, Alameda, CA 2-28-26] #bees #nativebees

A green lacewing larva has captured a lady beetle larva. Both are voracious predators, but is seems the lacewing larva a bit more so.

Predator vs. Predator: The Reckoning. It seems Aphid Lions (green lacewing larvae) are just a bit more predatory than lady beetle larvae (Aphid Gators?). Don’t remember seeing this scene before. [Ventura, CA 2-15-26] #entomology #macro

The female dodged me today but not long after a male appeared, taking a break from turf patrol. Presented in quarter-speed-o-vision. [Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex, Alameda, CA 2-3-26] #bees #nativebees

The Very Hungry Monarch [Alameda, CA 1-31-26] #butterflies

I spotted a Foothill Carpenter Bee yesterday but didn’t manage to get a picture. I went to another spot I knew they like to frequent today and sure enough... [Alameda, CA 1-30-26] #bees #nativebees

Haven’t seen any native bees since the week of rains we had but now that it’s sunny again we do have Monarchs for entertainment… [Alameda, CA 1-13-26] #entomology #pollinators #butterflies

Black and yellow striped bumble bee on pink manzanita flowers.

Black and yellow striped bumble bee on pink manzanita flowers.

Christmas Eve had a sunny mid-day in a wet week and the neighborhood blooming manzanitas brought out the Black-tailed Bumble Bees. [Bombus melanopygus, Alameda, CA 12-24-25] #bees #nativebees #bumblebees

A green, yellow and black male Agapostemon subtilior perched on a yellow Mexican sunflower flower.

A green, yellow and black Agapostemon subtilior male bee perched on the leaves of a bush I unfortunately can’t remember the name of at the moment.

Sure, you can count them on the middle fingers they’re giving to the concept of bee seasons, but nonetheless these Agapostemon subtilior males are still diligently trying to conduct their business… in mid-December. [Alameda, CA 12/16/25] #bees #nativebees

“Ma’am, yes you’re being very thorough, but those flowers are all dry and empty, the bush filled with fresh ones is right above you. Ma’am?” [Alameda, CA 12-5-25] #bees #bumblebees #nativebees

Ma’am, you can’t just sit there in people’s driveways, it’s not safe, even for royalty. [Alameda, CA 12-2-25] #bees #bumblebees #nativebees

Comparing a Western Pygmy Blue butterfly to the size of my thumbnail... for Science!

Segue to that Pygmy Blue video - a highly scientific ThumbParison for scale. It's not the greatest composition, but it is quite difficult to creep up your thumb to them. They don't appreciate it, and it's hard to get the focus plane right... [Alameda, CA 11-8-25] #butterflies

Western Pygmy Blue, America’s smallest butterfly and one of the world’s smallest. About the size of a thumbnail. [Alameda, CA 11-8-25] #butterflies

A black carpenter bee in my hand, doing a bit of grooming.

A black carpenter bee in my hand.

A black carpenter bee in my hand.

A black carpenter bee in my hand, starting to take off.

Ma’am, you can’t just wander the sidewalk like that. Most people pay no attention to where they’re stepping. [Foothill carpenter bee, Alameda, CA 11-4-25] #bees #nativebees

A male longhorn bee approaching another on a white flower.

A male longhorn bee approaching another on a white flower.

The male longhorn bee getting approached has lifted his back left leg in the traditional bee shooing away gesture.

The rejected male longhorn is moving away.

Usually one sees female bees shooing away other male or female bees with the traditional leg swipe, so it was notably bemusing to see a male longhorn bee use it on another male. I'm pretty sure this is the only time I've seen that. [Alameda, CA 8-16-25] #bees #nativebees

A green eyed black and yellow Nomada cuckoo bee perched on the tip of my index finger. There's a fine sprinkling of yellow pollen all over her.

In moderately Halloween-appropriate content, this Nomada bee that never takes off her wasp costume. Hey, you gotta appreciate their commitment to the bit... [Alameda, CA 7-20-25] #bees #nativebees

Ever see a complete bee grooming routine up close? I’m not saying this Agapostemon subtilior female and I are heroes, but we are here to help. Enjoy this quality motion picture, complete with PG&E construction noises for that true California flavor. [Alameda, CA 10-27-25] #bees #nativebees

A pair of European wool carder bees mating on a Aeonium arboreum plant flower. The female is is stroking the male's feathery forelegs that he's holding on top of her head.

A pair of European wool carder bees mating on a Aeonium arboreum plant flower. The female is is stroking the male's feathery forelegs that he's holding on top of her head.

A pair of European wool carder bees mating on a Aeonium arboreum plant flower. The female is is stroking the male's feathery forelegs that he's holding on top of her head.

A pair of European wool carder bees mating on a Aeonium arboreum plant flower. The female is is stroking the male's feathery forelegs that he's holding on top of her head.

Here's an uncommonly clear view of Anthidium manicatum (European wool carder bee) mating interaction. You can see how the female positions her wings safely out of the way, and how she's interacting with the male's feathery forelegs. [5-24-25] #bees #nativebees

“Look, it’s easy protein, no chasing needed!” - wasp trying to convince a bunch of others to follow it down the bee road, 125 million years ago.

🎼 Tongue shadow, tongue shadow- 🎶 Watch this little male Zadontomerus carpenter bee perform an elaborate nectar-probing routine in a rock purslane flower. [Alameda, CA 10-21-25] #bees #nativebees

A small green metallic Dialictus female bee on a pink and white flower with just a bit of sunlight illuminating it in a dramatic way.

A small green metallic Dialictus female bee on a pink and white flower with just a bit of sunlight illuminating it in a dramatic way.

A small green metallic Dialictus female bee on a pink and white flower with just a bit of sunlight illuminating it in a dramatic way.

Sure, you can use fill flash to have perfectly shadowless macro photos. But where's the Dialictus Drama? Where's the Theater? Bees prefer it theatrical, I'm pretty sure. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ [Alameda, CA 5-29-25] #bees #nativebees

A female Mason bee is foraging on a yellow wooly sunflower flower. A jumping spider is looking at her, doing some hunting math.

The jumping spider has decided the bee is too much and has turned away.

The jumping spider has turned back toward the bee, thinking it over again.

On the one hand, this jumping spider was a bit lacking in ambition, deciding this female Osmia bee was too much to try and take down. On the other hand, there was a moment of "Weeeeel, maaaaaybe-" in there... [Alameda, CA 6-7-25] #bees #nativebees #spiders

A yellow and black Nomada bee flying by a larger gray and black Coelioxys female bee that is nectaring on a magenta colored flower with yellow/orange pollen sprinkled about.

Cuckoo vs Cuckoo... the cuckooning? A Nomada bee (perhaps a male, from the looks of the slightly longer sniffing sticks) flies by a Coelioxys bee female (easy to tell from the one large spike on the abdomen vs several small ones males have). [Alameda, CA 6-7-25] #bees #nativebees

Agapostemon are terrible at mating (they still get it done - must be sheer numbers), but they are very, very thorough foragers. [Alameda, CA 10-3-25] #bees #nativebees

😛

I’m assuming this is being territorial, but this is pretty much how they attempt mating as well. I am honestly amazed at how ubiquitous Agapostemon are around here because I’ve never seen a successful mating in hundreds of clumsy attempts. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Unedited version.

When you’re just trying to groom but it’s a rough neighborhood. Presented in scientifically applied SloMoVision. [Leafcutter male aka Mittens vs Agapostemon subtilior male, Alameda, CA 10-7-25] #bees #nativebees

It’s surprising how seldom I see European wool carder bees mating considering how ubiquitous they are around here. But I have seen it more often than usual this year. [Alameda, CA 10-5-25] #bees #nativebees

Soldier ants don’t play around. 🐜