- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Published on: September 1, 2023
Let's roll!
During the golden hour, right before sunset, have you ever watched a male longhorned bee roll full-barrel over a flower at Top Gun speed?
During the day, the male longhorned target assorted insects foraging on "their" patch of flowers. Their goal: to save the nectar for the females of their species, perchance to mate with them.
This bee, probably a Melissodes agilis, burst over a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, at breakneck speed. This may have been his last flight before he settled down to sleep with a cluster of other male bees.
He's promising more territorial maneuvers tomorrow...and the next day...and the next day...
Mine. My patch of flowers.
Tags: longhorned bees (9), Melissodes agilis (31), Mexican sunflower (87), Tithonia rotundifola (27), Top Gun (1)
Comments: 1
Diana