Leaf-cutter Bee Nest-Building

[Harold Gough]

I had been aware of at least two leaf-cutter bees showing interest in the compost of my potted cacti. Mostly, this was on a side where I could not observe exactly what was happening. Moving or turning a pot would disorientate the bee. Then one of the bees chose to show interest in the side of a pot facing me. It was also the pot of one of my most photogenic cacti.

I shot some sequences of the bee landing on the pot and disappearing down its tunnel. It did not carry any pieces of leaf so I suspected that it was finishing off the nest. Then I saw its head appear first. This happens only during egg-laying. Further visits by the bee were with portions of leaf. It was, at last, finishing its work.

These bees fly straight and fast and I was only able to get shots of arrival and not of the approach.

Olympus EM-1 (aperture priority), Olympus 4/3 x2 TC, Olympus 4/3 50mm f2 macro, f9 or f11, hand-held.

Harold

[pdk42]

Re: Leaf-cutter Bee Nest-Building

What interesting behaviour! Nice macro shots.

[Jim Ford]

Re: Leaf-cutter Bee Nest-Building

I photographed one a few years ago, building a nest in a hole in a log. As Harold said, they fly straight and fast so it was difficult to get a shot of one entering the hole with a piece of leaf. In the end I put a thin bit of dried grass across the hole, which caused the bee to pause to remove it. I photoshopped the grass out after.

Jim

[Harold Gough]

Re: Leaf-cutter Bee Nest-Building

What interesting behaviour! Nice macro shots.

Thanks, Paul.

If you have one of those bamboo "bee hotels" this are likely to be the main users, in the larger holes.

Harold

[Keith-369]

Re: Leaf-cutter Bee Nest-Building

Nice sequence, well captured.

[alfbranch]

Re: Leaf-cutter Bee Nest-Building

Nicely shot Harold

[Harold Gough]

Re: Leaf-cutter Bee Nest-Building

Nice sequence, well captured.

Thanks. The sequence before the head emerged was selected from several sequences for the sharpest images.

Harold

[Internaut]

Re: Leaf-cutter Bee Nest-Building

Very interesting set. My favourite is the one with the bee’s face.

[Harold Gough]

Re: Leaf-cutter Bee Nest-Building

Nicely shot Harold

Thanks.

Thanks. Before someone else points it out, strictly, it's the top of its head. The actual face one, showing mandibles, was too soft to use. These shots sometimes have to very rushed and sharpness sometimes suffers.

Thanks

Harold