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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea (clade Anthophila) - Bees » Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees (Apidae) » Honey, Bumble, Longhorn, Orchid, and Digger Bees (Apinae) » Longhorn Bees (Eucerini) » Melissodes
Photo#125267
bee with odd behavior - Melissodes - male
Copyright © 2007 Ilona L.

bee with odd behavior - Melissodes - Male
Cross Plains, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA
July 7, 2007
Size: ~10mm
This bee was found clinging to a leaf and buzzing its wings for quite some time. Does a bee cool itself this way or was this bee just acting in a peculiar manner? The edges of its wings were quite tattered which I noticed when it finally rested its wings for a few seconds. The temperature was up in the 90's today and it was quite humid all day if this has anything to do with this behavior.

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bee with odd behavior - Melissodes - male bee with odd behavior - Melissodes - male bee with odd behavior - Melissodes - male bee with odd behavior - Melissodes - male
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Contributed by Ilona L. on 8 July, 2007 - 2:45am
Last updated 20 December, 2010 - 7:59pm

Melissodes
male
… John S. Ascher, 8 July, 2007 - 10:40am login or register to post comments

 
Thanks for the ID.
Thanks for the ID.
… Ilona L., 8 July, 2007 - 12:27pm login or register to post comments

 
Very old.
This bee is probably at the end of its lifespan, and may simply not be able to fly any more. Note it is almost hairless, where it should at least have dense hair on the thorax.
… Eric R. Eaton, 10 July, 2007 - 4:30pm login or register to post comments

 
Old bee
I thought it might be old, too, judging by the condition of the wings. I saw another similar bee at the flowers and it had much more hair on the thorax -- almost like a white halo.
… Ilona L., 10 July, 2007 - 5:04pm login or register to post comments

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