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Project Noah Nature School
This spotting is about a behavior. I believe this is a Golden Bumblebee who's behavior was definitely not quite normal. The butterfly bush attracts a lot of these bees and all were very busy gathering pollen from the blossoms. This bee, however, did not seem to be interested in doing that bee thing of gathering pollen. It has obviously been in a flower as there is a small amount of pollen on its body. It flew about the bush in a rather agitated manner and often just hung in the air. It would target a feeding bee and zero in on it. It would dive at at the feeding bee and harass the feeding bee until the bee would leave the flower. Sometimes the feeding bee merely left to find another blossom but, more often, the two bees would engage in aerial jousting. All the time I watched, this bee did not go to a blossom and behave in a normal bee manner.
Backyard. Seen around the butterfly bush.
Great capture Elaine,you have a id suggestion,so you can update your spotting,congrats and thanks for sharing
Yes, Jemma, the Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel IS on the endangered list. Its numbers have rebounded to the point where it could be removed but because there are concerns that future climate/environmental events could once again reduce those numbers, it remains on the Endangered List.
I should have taken a video!
Thanks for your help with Identifying the squirrel.
Your squirrel is on the endangered and rare list?
I did check out your link, Jemma and have to admit to being somewhat jealous! That was an incredible spotting and photography. Isn't nature grand?
you are welcome! mysterious "Beehaviour " indeed!!
Did you get a chance to check my link out?
Thank you's for the great comments to KarenL, Jemma, John La Salle, k andrews6 and to those who have favorited this spotting.
Could it have been a male? Which wouldn't have been at all interested in gathering pollen, and might of been harassing the other bees with a different intent.
Very well could be!!
I left a message on your Delmarva squirrel. Could you please check that.I think you are the right person to ask for help in that. Thanks in advance!
Jemma, I don't think there's any nest close by; there's no trees right around the garden. It seemed to be more of a bullying kind of activity than protective as it hovered and chose a target then flew in for the attack.
Spotted on Aug 20, 2013
Submitted on Sep 12, 2013
