Digging Wasps

Halictid Bees

Many of the holes at the college site appear to be the nests of halictid bees. I observed one species (upper left and right, in the microscope) entering and leaving holes and feeding on Yarrow flowers. I also saw Philanthus capture bees—sometimes on the wing—sting them (1 | 2), and fly away with them.

I observed Philanthus carrying bees on several occasions. I brought one prey bee back to photograph under the microscope. This appears to be a different species of halictid bee. (lower right).

I observed tiny green, metallic bees (which may be halictids) at both sites, but have not photographed them except for this shot of one disappearing down a hole at the college site. These may be Agapostemon splendens, which I’ve observed in a different part of the Dungeness Wildlife Refuge (see this page).

This species, collected at the Dungeness site, may be the same green, metallic species.

Another species photographed and collected at the college site.