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Northwest Wildlife Online
Order Hymenoptra: Bees and Wasps
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I was out in the backyard recently and took note of the extraordinary number of bees, wasps and similar insects that inhabit the Northwest area. I've begun to photograph and record their behaviors, and in the coming weeks will add to this part of the site. Hope you enjoy the photos.
Above left a Yellow Jacket searches for a home. The photo on the right documents a lesser known behavior of the species. I watched these guys for some time as they voraciously went after the carcass of a mouse.
This is an American Hover Fly, Metasyrphus americanus. Their larvae prey on aphids and scale insects that attack plants so hover flies are good things to see in your garden. On the right a hover fly and a jumping spider appear headed for a confrontation over this flower.
I believe several bumble bee species of the Bombus genera inhabit our region. Similar in body style, but with distinctive color patterns, these rotund social insects are unmistakable. The Yellow Faced Bumble Bee, Bombus vosnesenski is on the left. To the right is what I believe to be a a Golden Orange Bumble Bee, Bombus borealis. In general, bees of the Bombus genera are not aggressive, but unlike other bees and wasps a single bumble bee is capable of delivering numerous stings.
Two shots of a Honey Bee, Apis Mellifera. A European import from the 17th century Honey Bees they are now widespread across the US and have tremendous economic importance.
Believe this is a Plasterer Bee, Colletes fulgidus. Plasterer Bees get their name from from the thin coat of plaster like saliva they use to line their underground chamber. On the right is a nice example of a mature Yellow Jacket hive. This hive is more than a foot tall. I found it hanging about ten feet from the ground in a tangle of vine maple trees.
Protozoans Sponges Cnidarians Ctenophores Arthropods Echinoderms Mollusks Nematodes Flatworms Annelid Worms
Birds Mammals Reptiles Amphibians Fish Invertebrates Library NWWOL Online Store Home
Mission Editor Bio Site Map Contact Wildlife Park Links Further Study Wild Employment Northwest Trek