My favourite Bee: The beautiful Blue Banded Bee. An Australian Native and also a solitary species, they live alone in holes in walls, fences and the ground. They are helpful little...

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

The beautiful Blue Banded Bee. An Australian Native and also a solitary species, they live alone in holes in walls, fences and the ground. They are helpful little guys (about 2/3rds the size of a European Honey Bee) and are responsible for pollinating a large amount of Australia's crops and fruit.
I think this one is a Male, males have 5 stripes and females 4.

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Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

SX2002 wrote:

The beautiful Blue Banded Bee. An Australian Native and also a solitary species, they live alone in holes in walls, fences and the ground. They are helpful little guys (about 2/3rds the size of a European Honey Bee) and are responsible for pollinating a large amount of Australia's crops and fruit.
I think this one is a Male, males have 5 stripes and females 4.

Fantastic image!!!Ron

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Superb shot!

randave2001 Loc: Richmond

Excellent capture Ron.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

That's a nice one, Ron--enjoyed!

tcthome Loc: NJ

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

Wow, that is an awesome image!!! Love the bee too!

jdtonkinson Loc: Red Wing, MN

Excellent closeups Ron

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

WOW!

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

An excellent image, Ron.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Excellent capture, Ron.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Wonderful shot
I "thought" Bees like the ones in my backyard all had compound eyes is this another example of my ignorance or are Australian Bees super special -- Yours looks Super Special --

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

What a COOL photograph!! In the States we have "Orchard" Bees. Even smaller than that. Metallic blue and supposedly much better than Honey Bees as pollinators. They are solitary and live in holes as well! But you won't get any honey out of these guys!

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Retired CPO wrote:

What a COOL photograph!! In the States we have "Orchard" Bees. Even smaller than that. Metallic blue and supposedly much better than Honey Bees as pollinators. They are solitary and live in holes as well! But you won't get any honey out of these guys!

Absolutely beautiful both the bee and the shot

flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

Very nice image!