If you want to attract honey bees, plant African blue basil and they will come.
So will the predators.
Today a praying mantis, Stagmomantis californicus, was lying in wait in the basil patch, waiting for a honey bee. The bees came, they nectared, they left.
Ms. Mantis just stared at them.
The bees were buzzing over her head, and even colliiding with her.
Was she not hungry? Was she fasting? Was it too hot to work? Were her spiked forelegs too tired? Was she misjudging her target? Was she waiting for a bigger bee? Was she reciting "To bee, or not to bee?" Was she a vegetarian?
Who knows. She probably just wasn't all that hungry.
It was a good day for a mantis and a good day for a bee.
Cover image: A praying mantis watches a honey bee buzz by. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)