Nomada cuckoo bee series

Lord VetinariLord Vetinari Registered Users Posts: 15,901 Major grins
edited May 3, 2008 in Holy Macro
I haven't been able to get closer than about a foot away from these until yesterday when I found one literally hanging about in my Thuja fir tree. Managed to move it to my water barrel for some studio shots (that's a leaf in the BG not a lizard) and then let it warm up and dry off on my hand for a couple of mins after which it took off.

Brian V.

2452236919_dbe29a72e7_o.jpg

2452236923_e7d83b5694_o.jpg


2454196516_db09307348_b.jpg


2452236931_6609b9af7d_o.jpg

2454196508_18797fb854_o.jpg

2452236943_d406fe6598_o.jpg
Brian V.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/
http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/

Comments

  • Awais YaqubAwais Yaqub Registered Users Posts: 10,572 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2008
    These are superb Sir
    clap.gif
    Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal

    My Gallery
  • GOLDENORFEGOLDENORFE Super Moderators Posts: 4,747 moderator
    edited April 30, 2008
    great series Brian clap.gif , looks quite small .
    never seen one of these ,where are they found?
    phil.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenorfe/
    Phil

    moderator - Holy Macro
    Goldenorfe’s Flickr Gallery
    Goldenorfe photography on Smugmug
    Phils Photographic Adventures Blog
  • Lord VetinariLord Vetinari Registered Users Posts: 15,901 Major grins
    edited May 1, 2008
    Thanks Awais and phil for the kind comments :)

    Phil - if you have miner bees you will probably find these around as well. They lay their eggs in the miner bees holes. I see them patrolling bushes where the miner bees often have a rest and cleanup.

    Brian V.
    Brian V.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/
    http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/
  • ColMofedColMofed Registered Users Posts: 88 Big grins
    edited May 1, 2008
    Wow! Those eyes!

    Rod.
    Rod
    Bristol, UK.
  • SkippySkippy Registered Users Posts: 12,075 Major grins
    edited May 1, 2008
    Lord Vetinari wrote:
    I haven't been able to get closer than about a foot away from these until yesterday when I found one literally hanging about in my Thuja fir tree. Managed to move it to my water barrel for some studio shots (that's a leaf in the BG not a lizard) and then let it warm up and dry off on my hand for a couple of mins after which it took off.

    Brian V.

    Love the face clap.gif check out those eyes, how cool are they :ivar
    From the look of that first image, I was fully expecting the following image to show the Bee had be captured by a Spider, but it wasn't to be so.

    I dunno that I would be game enough to hold it like you have :oogle

    Great Stuff Brian thumb.gif .... Skippy :D
    .
    .
    Skippy (Australia) - Moderator of "HOLY MACRO" and "OTHER COOL SHOTS"

    ALBUM http://ozzieskip.smugmug.com/

    :skippy Everyone has the right to be stupid, but some people just abuse the privilege :dgrin
  • Lord VetinariLord Vetinari Registered Users Posts: 15,901 Major grins
    edited May 1, 2008
    Thanks Rod and skippy for looking and commenting :)

    Skippy - I've never been bitten or stung by anything I was photographing.
    Brian V.
    Brian V.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/
    http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/
  • RobinivichRobinivich Registered Users Posts: 438 Major grins
    edited May 2, 2008
    Very cool insect, and beautifully captured as always!

    A question about the biology, are they 100% bees? The head looks distinctly bee, the abdomen 100% wasp, and the thorax somewhere in between, and while I know bees are descended from wasps originally, this guy looks like a "missing" link!
    http://taylorinlight.com
  • MichelleLMichelleL Registered Users Posts: 210 Major grins
    edited May 2, 2008
    I'm with Skippy - I don't know if I'd be holding it!

    Nice photos Brian. clap.gif
    Michelle Legg :smooch

    michellelegg.com
    http://legg.smugmug.com/
  • VivaxVivax Registered Users Posts: 45 Big grins
    edited May 2, 2008
    Wonderful pics of a faboulous insect. Dont think I have ever seen one.
  • Lord VetinariLord Vetinari Registered Users Posts: 15,901 Major grins
    edited May 2, 2008
    Thanks for the comments :)

    Robinivich -AFAIK it's a genuine bee- I spent 6 months trying to ID it when I first saw one as a wasp unsuccessfully until someone pointed out it was bee :)

    Brian V.
    Brian V.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/
    http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/
  • RobinivichRobinivich Registered Users Posts: 438 Major grins
    edited May 3, 2008
    Lord Vetinari wrote:
    Thanks for the comments :)

    Robinivich -AFAIK it's a genuine bee- I spent 6 months trying to ID it when I first saw one as a wasp unsuccessfully until someone pointed out it was bee :)

    Brian V.
    Glad to know I wasn't the only one fooled thumb.gif
    http://taylorinlight.com
Sign In or Register to comment.