For several years I have been observing a half dozen or so Ground Bee colonies at this location. During that time I have seen many thousands of the male bees tirelessly circling anxiously awaiting for the females’ to emerge from their underground chambers to mate. This is the first time, however, that I have seen one of the females (sort of) as the shots just show a jumbled ball of bees.

BTW: At two of the colonies I recently observed (Tricrania sanguinipennis) Blister Beetles [i.e. bee parasitoids] crawling around alongside the hovering ground bees.

On a trail alongside an intermittent stream through a mixed pine/ deciduous forest. (Thanks)