Pollenators - Blog Posts
Taurus Mason Bee (Osmia taurus), taken March 18, 2025, in Georgia, US
Hard at work...admiring a rock? I'm honestly not sure what these guys are doing, possibly removing fine sediment from the rocks? There are dozens flying along the stones on the edge of my creek banks. The best guess I have is that they're collecting fine sand or dirt to do their "mason" work with. They're quite shy, but if I sit still enough, they'll come check out the rocks near me!
Ichneumon Wasp (Limonethe maurator), taken August 17, 2024, in Georgia, US
A lithe wasp for the wasp-likers! I can't wait for it to be wasp season again... The paper wasps are back out, and I swear I saw a spider or great black digger wasp in the leaves the other day, but it flew away before I could get a good look. I also found and lost a damselfly I've never seen before, but I can stop being salty about that when I find another one (hopefully). Regardless, the wasps are coming back, and here is one I look forward to seeing again!
Fine-backed Red Paper Wasp (Polistes carolina), taken November 4, 2024, in Georgia, US
Sleeby!! A beautiful paper wasp drowsing on a yellowing leaf on a cool November evening. She barely reacted to my presence, likely due to the incoming cold. She was gone the next day, so she likely set out once the sun warmed her up the next morning!
Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), taken September 15, 2024, in Georgia, US
Some of my favorite bee photos! I think I had my nicer lens on for these, so they turned out a bit higher quality than others. Taking pictures of bees moving frantically from flower to flower is hard enough already—add in needing to get close and it's near impossible because they run away! My more ranged lens is nice for insects like bees, butterflies, and dragonflies that are large enough to focus easily from afar and are too skittish for getting super close. These turned out pretty cute!
Wilke's Mining Bee (Andrena wilkella), taken July 12, 2024, in New Hampshire, US
I always love getting pictures of hymenopterans stuffing their little faces in flowers! This bee was a little skittish but ultimately found a flower she liked enough to eat off of while I photographed her.