Posts Tagged: Sandy Shanks

European Wool Carder Bees Are on the Move

Seen any European wool carder bees lately? European wool carder bees (so named because the female collects or cards plant hairs for their nests) are on the move.  The bees, about the size of honey bees, are mostly black and yellow. The females...

A European wool carder bee in flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A European wool carder bee in flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

European wool carder bees are difficult to photograph when they're zipping around. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

European wool carder bees are difficult to photograph when they're zipping around. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Make way! This European wool carder lets everyone know who's boss. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Make way! This European wool carder lets everyone know who's boss. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

European Carder Bees Do Like Snapdragons!

What a show! Last weekend we spotted female European wool carder bees (so named because they collect or card plant hairs for their nests) buzzing in and out of our snapdragons. The bees, about the size of honey bees, are mostly black and yellow. The...

A male European wool carder bee patrolling snapdragons in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male European wool carder bee patrolling snapdragons in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The European wool carder bee is about the size of a honey bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The European wool carder bee is about the size of a honey bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Dorsal view of the European wool carder bee as it rests on a snapdragon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Dorsal view of the European wool carder bee as it rests on a snapdragon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

All that patrolling makes a fellow tired. A male European wool carder bee rests on a leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

All that patrolling makes a fellow tired. A male European wool carder bee rests on a leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bottoms up! A female wool carder bee foraging in a snapdragon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bottoms up! A female wool carder bee foraging in a snapdragon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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