Shot in 2006 somewhere on the road between Budapest and Prague with a first-generation Pentax digital camera (and a kit lens). The quality is abysmal. But…I ran across it today and could not resist. The first pic is the entire picture. The second is a closer crop. History is important, too… And innovations (and increased skill) are remarkable. And…truly a European Honeybee!
Month: April 2022
Bonus: A Jumping Spider
In some of the shots of this one, the eyes look positively green. But this was the best for focus all around. They’re shy little ones. They know when you’re interested in them and they scamper quickly.
A Quick Look at the Dandelions Again
Messy flowers make for messy bees. But really fun to see. Great look at her eyes and wings today!
Bonus: Brand New BeeBaby
So here’s some evidence of pollination. This is a new iris this year that the bees created. There are several of these “BeeBabies” new this year and I’ll be posting pics of them as they blossom. This one is especially cute and looks like a keeper! It’s a shortie, but it’s just gorgeous. And super neat that it’s a product of these little ones.
Great Face on the Grapies
Decided on a close crop today. Been cloudy lately – hoping for rain. You get a great look at one of her occeli right there on her forehead. For those new to the site, bees have five eyes. The two that you see on the sides of her face (that you recognize as her eyes) are compound eyes – with a hair growing between each lens and its neighbor – and three other eyes called occeli. Apparently they sense light and color. In this shot you can only see the middle one, but there are two others almost in line with it – on either side of the middle one.
Still Buzzing around the Grape Hyacinths
So many tulips and irises in bloom right now. But it seems they’re not very interested in those. So we go back to the well. With a shot like this, though, who is complaining? Hint: not this guy.
Bees & Tulips. Pretty Rare.
They’re not often in the tulips (I think it’s because the tulips throw pollen only for a short time and I don’t manage to catch the bees in there). So when I get one on or in a tulip, it’s especially fun. This one is fun!
The Lawn Really Needs to be Mowed
But until then (maybe tomorrow), the bees are having a filthy feast. Look at the pollen all over her cute face!
That was passive voice. I kinda don’t like that. Going to leave the headline in order to make the point, though. I should have typed:
I need to mow the lawn. Boom. There we go!
The Grapies are Still at It
And I was lucky enough to find a bumble on one. Sure didn’t stick around long, but it’s so much fun seeing the bumbles on the grape hyacinths. Lots in the lawn, too. Grapies, I mean. Not bumbles.
A Face – and Big Pollen Baskets – from the Glory of the Snow
A really good look at a pretty face, head-on, on the glory of the snow. She’s so heavily laden. I don’t know what goes on in a bee’s mind, but I have to believe that there’s some enjoyment of spring.
