The solitary bees are incredibly active right now because there are tons of flowers.
Look at all the white pollen that is available for this bee to gather.
That doesn’t mean the bees have got it easy, though.
It is one tiny bee in a giant moonflower (Datura).
By the way, from the human perspective the perfume from these night-blooming flowers is overwhelming if you stand too close.
Spring is dragging along this year because we’ve had cool weather longer than usual. That’s a good thing!
But is has also meant some insects are behind their usual schedule.
Take the solitary bees, like the digger and sweat bees. Usually we have clouds of tiny bees visiting flowers in March. This year they have been delayed.
The cuckoo bee can be an indicator. I watch the desert marigolds for them every year. This is a photograph of the first one I’ve spotted this year and it is April 15, 2020. In past years, we’ve seen them in February and March.
Taking photographs can be a way of keeping records of when certain events occur.
Do you have any insects that you look for year after year?
The penstemons (also called beardtongues) are in full glory this week and popular with flying visitors.
Who is this?
Oh, a bee.
Guess it wasn’t finished.
Clean up time.
Good to go.
Do you think this flower qualifies as take out?
For more information, see Roberta Gibson Writes.
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