It's that time of year once more when Mrs WJ and I are required to man Air Traffic Control along Digger Alley, home to more species of Digger Wasps and Mining Bees than you can imagine. It all starts with the Beewolf of course, the ever popular insect that hunts honey bees - though this one is simply guarding her burrow from interlopers
Male Beewolves don't hide away, they have a Lek - pheromone based believe it or not - so the nicest smelling chap gets the girl!
Also guarding their burrow you can find Pantaloon Bees - similar lifestyle to the Beewolf, but being a Bee they lay an egg on a ball of pollen instead
Jewel wasps sneak in and out of burrows if you don't guard them
and even the parasitic Bee equivalent - the Pointy Bum Bee - is on the lookout for unwilling hosts. They normally seek out Leafcutter bees, so not sure why this one's searching the burrows...
The other regular Digger Wasp is the Weevil Wolf of course - though sometimes their eyes are bigger than their burrow - as in this case, the weevil having to be abandoned at the entrance
Strange new visitors appear - not too sure exactly what species these two are yet
Though I suspect the latter is a member of the Pompilidae family at least.
Shield Bugs drop in occasionally to see what's happening
Though to be honest, we keep coming back to the Beewolf. Not sure why, I guess they're just charismatic little characters :-)
___
Find me on Flickr / All about your camera - The Getting off Auto Index
Fascinating insight into life at Digger Alley and terrific photo captures as always. I don't know which creature I like more but am definitely a fan of the fabulous Beewolf, who couldn't love that expressive face !! The colours of the jewel wasp are lovely and who could ignore that photo of pointy bum bee ha ha !!
_________________________________________________________________________
Regards, Hazel
I used to think there were honey bees, bumble bees, and wasps. Now I learn that there are so many more living extraordinary lives, underground and all around us. Thanks WJ you make even the Shield Beetle look lovely.
Lot to learn
These are fabulous photos WJ and like Gaynor said, it makes you appreciate just how many and varied the bees and their habitats are.
See my Flickr photos here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/115745582@N04/
Great set of Photos Mr WJ. I do enjoy a visit along Digger Alley this time of year.
My Flickr. Photos link HERE
I agree, they're definitely fascinating. The bees are heavy when you're a wasp - it must be exhausting carrying them so far (they can search up to a mile away!). They certainly appreciate a little rest occasionally, often sitting on you - or in this case, on my tripod
and Mrs WJ's getting quite good at catching those very pretty Jewel Wasps up to no good - this one's just about to sneak into someone else's burrow
The bees aren't always accommodating of course - this one's clearly giving the Beewolf a hard time, it seems to be wrestling it back into the correct carrying position!
and you also get little hoverflies flitting around
Even the wasps are suffering in the heat - this German Wasp was taking a drink in the visitor centre bird bath!