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Project Noah Nature School
Colletes sp. cf. hederae
It belongs to the genus of plasterer or polyester bees that build cells in underground nests (mining bees) that are lined with a cellophane-like plastic secretion, a true polyester. The ivy bee is a solitary bee that can be found nesting in dense aggregations. The pictured bee was found feeding on the nectar of ivy flowers, their favorite food. It is quite small, ca. 1 cm long. This species is very similar to the heather bee (Colletes succintus) and the sea aster bee (Colletes halophilus).
Spotted at the back yard garden on ivy flowers. El Espinar.
Camera Model: NIKON D500. Exposure Time: 1/500 sec.; f/11; ISO Speed Rating: 900. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 300.0 mm. No flash fired. DSC_3524, 3528
Spotted on Sep 22, 2018
Submitted on Sep 13, 2019
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