Little Black Bee (?) - (enlarge)

I am not sure if this is a Bee or not - it sure looks like one but it is the

first one I had seen and have not seen one since.

Hi Gail, It's a great close up of this guy, I'm not sure if it's a bee its head makes me think ant family but I truly don't know. A fine capture with good colors and details regardless.

Best Always, Holger

Thanks Holger- I have seen similar like markings on the head of bees so that is what made me think it was a bee - it was much bigger than an ant - I jus looked online and should have done so first. I just saw what is called a 'cuckoo bee-various types' or parasitic bees. They have lost all the ability to carry pollen because they don't have to.  In the Spring the Adult looks for the nest of the Andrenid bee.  While the Mother of the Nest is busy in search of food, they lay an egg. When the egg hatches the larvae kills and eats the baby resident bee and also eats food reserves in the nest. Talk about adapting!! Thanks for dropping by Holger!

If anyone can make a bug look beautiful, it is you!

thanks a lot Kathy, appreciate your thoughts shared so much.

very beautiful

Gail,

  Beautiful close-up with wonderful colors & background.  Take care, Patsy

I love the colour and the detail, but what makes this one so special Is the diagonal composition and the kind of anticipation between the bee and it's intended destination! Very well done!

Best Regards

Alf

thanks so much for your visit! When I took this shot, I quickly tried to find the best focal plane and this angle seemed to work well. I knew that this was the only way I would get the most detail on the head/eye. Moving to the opposite side would have revealed more but this bee would have been long gone by the times I moved. Thank you Alf for your input :) always appreciate your thoughts shared.

sincerer thanks for the thoughts shared by each one. :) much appreciated:)

This micro world is a true miracle but on your photos its inhabitants look more amazing. Great comp, colors and details.

Thank you so much for those encouraging words of critique - I truly appreciate them.