Hella Bee Nerd

“I’ve landed in a good spot, I’ll drop my wings and… waaait this isn’t right.” Swarms of termites are flying through the neighborhood. Classic warmup after rain seasonal event around here. At least our cat is enjoying swatting at them. [Alameda, CA 10-23-26]

“I am a terrifying snake. Look at my snake head waving back and forth, tasting the air!” “Definitely, swallowtail caterpillar. We’re all fooled.” [Alameda, CA 10-13-26] #butterflies

I was away for a few weeks but luckily the local bees still remember me as their bestie. [Mellisodes Longhorn bee female, Alameda, CA 10-9-26] #bees #nativebees

It takes a lot for me to be startled by how large a spider is, but this Mediterranean Spiny False Wolf Spider (also known as Nosferatu spider) my wife spotted in our garage did the trick. Absolute unit. I relocated him to more suitable environs. [Alameda, CA 9-12-26] #spiders

I see it’s been four months since the last highly scientific Lasioglossum kincaidii thumbparison, so here’s the latest edition. [Alameda, CA 8-14-26]

There’s a slanderous rumor that carpenter bees are always nectar robbing, but that’s not true. They’re perfectly willing to try doing it the old fashioned way if the flower is big enough, like this Hollyhock. [Alameda, CA 8-16-26] #bees #nativebees

“Uh, she’s doing something weird, I’ll just do a bit of grooming and move on.” It seems concentrating nectar is considered too vexing to interrupt with a mating attempt by male bees, as demonstrated by these longhorn bees. [Alameda, CA 8-16-26] #bees #nativebees

When there are so few grains of pollen left you can count them, it’s important to get them all. This Lasioglossum kincaidii will tell you thoroughness is the key to success. She also knows show & tell is the best teachable moment. [Alameda, CA 8-14-26] #bees #nativebees

I’m not sure there was enough enthusiasm here to call this a real mating attempt, but either way, it seems even Masked Bees themselves have a hard time telling if another is a male or a female . The difference is pretty subtle. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ [Alameda, CA 8-8-26] #bees #nativebees

Amateurs might get lured in by petals but this Dialictus knew better and went straight for the flower with just the good stuff. This isn’t slow motion - sticky flowers are tricky, but Grindelia is still wildly popular with most native bees. [Alameda, CA 8-8-26] #bees #nativebees

Ceratina and Dialictus are friends. I’m not saying best friends, just pals. Metallic recognizes metallic. [Alameda, CA 8-8-26] #bees #nativebees

Six limbs to grab pollen with probably sounds like plenty, but Ceratina small carpenter bees in a hurry don’t play around so grabbing with mouth parts as well it is. Also a nice look at how they move it back and pack it on their scopa. [Alameda, CA 7-6-26] #bees #nativebees

When Longhorn bees concentrate nectar it’s not so much blowing bubbles but spreading it out among their mouthparts to evaporate the water, as seen with this older female (missing one antenna) on a sunflower plant, appropriately enough. [Berkeley, CA 8-5-26] #bees #nativebees

Sometimes doing your chores while covered in sticky pollen and dealing with the persistent wind is A LOT so you chomp on to a flower stamen to take a few moments for yourself before carrying on. [Alameda, CA 7-27-26] #bees #nativebees

Another occasional reminder that phoretic mites come in sizes appropriate to their bees. This little Halictus tripartitus has a single tiny pink mite on her eye. The mites hitch a ride to the nest where they act as a cleanup crew. [Alameda, CA 7-17-26] #bees #nativebees

Speaking of finger sizes… This tiny Bold Jumping Spider earned his or her moniker by not retreating from the enormous thumb looming ever closer. Thank you for your heroic contribution to Thumbparison Science! [Alameda, CA 7-17-26] #spiders

Seasonal disclaimer: I do not have giant finger tips. Dialictus bees are small. This has been my [Finger] Tip Talk. [Alameda, CA 7-17-26] #bees #nativebees

Sometimes a quick phone photo going against the direction of the light works out nicely. That’s it, that’s the whole message. [Alameda, CA 7-15-26] #pollinators #butterflies