I've got white bummed bees galore now and am not even scared of them anymore. In particular they seem to adore my orange and red/black poppies.
See what a little education can do ?
Thanks muchly.
;D
Great! There's no need to be scared at all.
I saw a bee last week with a really bright yellow underbelly. Atleast I assumed it was a bee. Looked closer to the honey bee type rather than the bumble bee type if you know what I mean. Quite large though.. Wondered if the yellow was pollen but I really don't think it was. Any ideas or was I seeing things?
Almost certainly pollen. Bees carry it in different ways; honeybees pack it into 'pollen baskets' on the rear legs, where it's caught in long stiff hairs. Some of the solitary bees carry it on their bodies, and I think that's what you saw. Some do look rather like honeybees.
i saw one with a load in between in shoulder blades. you could actually see him moving it all up there.
fascinating!
;D
Well there you go, I didn't know that at all. I thought all bees carried their pollen on their legs.
I am constantly amazed by what I am finding,insect wise, in my garden now...after it being almost dead with nothing in it except a lawn and a brick BBQ when I moved in five years ago.