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Project Noah Nature School
Bembix sp.
What appeared to me to be a sand bee (?) **Sand wasp-female**
Literally on a quiet, dirt road that runs between farm fields. In bright sun in very warm, dry conditions at this time of year.
I've heard of sand spiders but don't think I've ever heard of sand bees before. This insect looks bee-like to me and I'm really not sure what it was doing on the sandy, dirt road but it was acting excited, doing a little wiggle-like dance and could almost have been sniffing (like a dog) the dirt...or something. I was so curious I sat and watched him for over 20 minutes but I never could figure out what it was doing and it was alone, not performing for another bee...that I could see any way. It also wasn't in the least bit shy but not aggressive (no sting, buzzing or biting) either. I'd step back a few feet and it would follow my feet and do its little wiggle-dance. I had a hard time photographing it because it kept coming too close for me to focus on with my 55-300 mm lens.
BugEric-Thank you so much for helping me identify this pretty girl! Not a bee then?! I thought wasps were usually longer in body with three separate body segments or sections and more of a point (think stinger) on the last section. I never would have guessed. Do you know why she would have been making that weird movement in the sand/dirt? Was she leaving her scent or following the scent of another or something? It really was curious the way she was acting. Is it true female wasps deliver a more painful sting than males? if so, why...larger stinger, more poison, more potent poison or venom? Sorry, just really curious. :-)
Spotted on Aug 16, 2013
Submitted on Feb 16, 2014
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