John     

The #BlueBandedBee has been spotted in my area!

I’d never even heard of them before the local community newspaper mentioned them.

My maternal grandparents would be ashamed of me. (they were beekeepers)

#bees #bluebanded #pollinator

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-09/blue-banded-bee-australian-insect-of-the-year-inaugral-vote/104572938

Blue-banded bee named 2024 ABC Australian Insect of the Year as thousands vote in inaugural poll

The moth or the butterfly? The stick insect or the hoverfly? The beetle or the bee? Can you guess which is the inaugural ABC Australian Insect of the Year?   

ABC News
Apr 4, 2025 at 4:02amWeb
Show threadJohn     Apr 4, 2025

Blue-banded bees #forage on a variety of exotic and native flowers such as #Hibbertia scandens, Melastoma malabathricum subsp malabathricum, #tomato, #chilli, #basil, buddleia, #lavender, abelias, Leucophyllum and cigar plants (Cuphea).

https://www.lfwseq.org.au/blue-banded-bee/#:~:text=Blue%2Dbanded%20bees%20forage%20on,and%20cigar%20plants%20(Cuphea).

Blue-banded Bees - Land for Wildlife

There are eleven species of described blue-banded bees in Australia ranging in size from 8-14 mm. They are also known as long-tongued bees or buzz pollinators. Blue-banded bees are solitary … Continue reading Blue-banded Bees

Land for Wildlife
Show threadPandanusApr 4, 2025
@John Great pollinators for your tomatoes! They always sound like they’re buzzing slightly off-key to me, lovely.