Tag: bees

Swarm

November 2, 2021

The bees have divided themselves into two groups. This lot are swarming in a tree next to their hive.

Lovely Lantana

November 27, 2020

I’m almost ashamed to admit that this beautiful flower is a “Weed of National Significance’ in my state and I love it in my garden. It’s classified as a poisonous weed. Personally, I haven’t found it to be invasive, although it is thriving here where mostly it’s a struggle to get plants to survive. It is toxic to animals, but the bees seem to love it – so that’s another plus.

Odd bee out

July 29, 2020

One of these bees is not like the others.

I first thought this might be a native bee, but after a little research I think this one might be a hover fly (Syrphidae)  not a bee.

I must admit I my knowledge of insects is limited. I’d not heard the term hover fly before. And I didn’t know that they are quite beneficial to the garden, even if they aren’t bees. They help with pollination and even eat aphids. They are called hover flies because it’s what they do – hover. They hover in the one spot, move suddenly forwards or sideways, and then hover again. Fascinating.