bonnienickel's Favorites
Photos / Sounds
What
California Digger Bee (Anthophora californica)Observer
carrotpeopleDescription
I made multiple observations at same location for aggregation of nesting Anthophora bees. Some bees can be differentiated by pollen on legs (or not).
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Pruinose Squash Bee (Peponapis pruinosa)Observer
thumbwaveDescription
Video:
https://youtu.be/ba2KeTcvaMA
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Observer
tchesterDescription
Kate Harper and I found two plants of this species, which are both shown in the first pix. But we couldn't determine it since there wasn't much to go on. Flora ID NW only was able to narrow it down to 29 Apiaceae species that could fit these finished plants, so we never knew what it was. We thought they might be Taschia arguta, from nearby vouchers at high elevation.
We never returned to these plants, but fortunately Fred Melgert and Carla Hoegen independently found a similar plant in this canyon on 16 February 2024, and it had fresh leaves which gave the determination! See their post from a different part of Palo Verde Canyon:
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Hirsute Paradise Spider (Habronattus hirsutus)Observer
brian_wrightDescription
Female. On Creosote in Vallecito County Park. Photo #4 (male) was taken a week earlier on the same plant.
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All-dark Miner (Andrena perimelas)Observer
patsimpson2000Description
Big nest aggregation for this species in a 10ft sq. area. Nests hidden at the base of Euphorbia misera shrubs. This individual entered nest at 1:13pm with pollen load and came out at 1:42. Last 3 photos were first in the sequence. There were at least 4 other nests within 5 inches of this one as I saw 4 other females come in through Euphorbia branches and landing very close, but the next entries where not visible from the trail.
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Barrel Cactus Shortface (Dufourea echinocacti)Observer
nature4lzwDescription
Besides this individual bee, I saw more on other flowering California Barrel Cactus.
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Chaparral Currant Miner (Andrena caliginosa)Observer
carrotpeopleDescription
same location as this other observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/203197624
Could be the same individual.
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Tripartite Sweat Bee (Halictus tripartitus)Observer
bonnienickelDescription
Found this entrance to a ground-dwelling bee species in my native garden today. Sorry for the crummy photos. I’ll try again when the sun isn’t so high in the sky.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
bonnienickelDescription
Smaller bee on the left. On nonnative Glebionis coronaria, foraging side by side with Halictus ligatus.
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Metallic Sweat Bees (Subgenus Dialictus)Observer
bonnienickelDescription
This is the first time I’ve seen a bee visit Cneoridium dumosum, or any pollinator for that matter.
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Meadow Flies (Genus Chrysotoxum)Observer
markkjamesDescription
Dismissed as Vespula pensylvanica until it hovered.
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Genus DacrymycesObserver
markkjamesDescription
Observed on decayed branch. Not sure if the salmon-colored clumps in rows on upper half are a different fungal species? ( Myxarium?)
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Fuscatus-group Paper Wasps (Subgenus Fuscopolistes)Observer
markkjamesDescription
Discovered about a dozen wasps or so lingering outside an opening beneath a small boulder. Perhaps nest building? A few came and went. Difficulty getting close enough for decent shots and also due to dead overgrown grasses. Maybe P. aurifer?
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Mountain-digger Bees (Genus Habropoda)Observer
carrotpeopleDescription
Start - 12:17p 65F clear/hazy, wind 2 mph
End - 1:18p 66F clear/hazy, wind gusts up to 5 mph
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Titus's Sweat Bee (Lasioglossum titusi)Observer
robertajamesDescription
Photos by Tina Tong
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Observer
bugornotDescription
Observed many of these Digger Bees feeding on the numerous Crystalline Ice Plants growing along the trail, as shown in the second photo.
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Mining Bees (Genus Andrena)Observer
patsimpson2000Description
A few individuals flying frantically around a lemonade berry, seemingly never landing except for 1 individual seen landing on a leaf after quite a while.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
itazuraDescription
Multiple species. Massive nest(s) around lookout point.
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Observer
bugornotDescription
I observed a number of these bees on the Slender Iceplant (Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum) flowers.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
pjbryantPlace
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, Orange County, California, USA (Google, OSM)
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Subgenus ZacestaObserver
tom_barnes_Description
More than one individual photographed in the same immediate location, all foraging on Pincushion Plants (Navarretia sp ).
Escondido, CA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
P6070270
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Bomber Fly (Heterostylum robustum)Observer
catherine_gDescription
Visiting nest of Diadasia enavata
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Fairy Bees (Genus Perdita)Observer
bonnienickelDescription
On California Croton
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Epeolus axillarisObserver
bonnienickelDescription
On Isocoma menziesii. Last photo has a Honey Bee nearby for scale.
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Observer
carrotpeopleDescription
This is the huge nesting aggregation found by @bonnienickel
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Wide-legged Sweat Bee (Agapostemon femoratus)Observer
sheep4me123Description
Found on Encelia californica
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Arizona Small Carpenter (Ceratina arizonensis)Observer
bonnienickelDescription
On Encelia californica; swarming all around this one flower; first photo shows at least four individuals
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Abert's Thread-waisted Wasp (Ammophila aberti)Observer
nature4lzwDescription
Wasp very busy moving stones with its red jaws.
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Genus MelissodesObserver
kneubaueDescription
Her nest was located in a sunny spot under a tree covered with sparse grass and leaves.
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Phymata pacificaObserver
markkjamesDescription
Observed multiples within a short distance on one Baccharis sarothroides bush.
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Cellophane-cuckoo Bees (Genus Epeolus)Observer
nature4lzwDescription
Seen on Desert Broom (male plant).
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Least Cellophane-cuckoo Bee (Epeolus minimus)Observer
mhedinDescription
on Telegraph Weed (Heterotheca grandiflora), stabilized dunes
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Compact Cellophane-Cuckoo (Epeolus compactus)Observer
patsimpson2000Description
Bee foraging on sea dahlia. 30 minutes later, the bee was resting on a petal. Small in size (last photo for scale).
Photos / Sounds
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Baker's Nomia (Dieunomia nevadensis ssp. bakeri)Observer
greenjay6Description
swarming around and into a hole in the ground
