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Mining bee


Mining bee
Photo Information
Copyright: Monika MvJ (thistle) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1317 W: 77 N: 3012] (9272)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 4200, Nikkor ED 38-114 F/2.8-4.8
Exposure: f/4.8
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Bee and flies [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-03-01 2:42
Viewed: 881
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In fact I'm not sure at all if this is a mining bee, but that's the best ID I could find.
Any ideas if this is right or not are very welcome.

Mining bees are very hairy bees, often reminding bumblebees, but they are much slimmer and usually their hairs are a bit shorter.
These bees do not live in colonies. They live a solitary life. But in many cases females tolerate other females digging a hole right next door, giving a colony like impression. In some species females even share the same entrance, even though, underground, each makes its own chambers.
As you might conclude from the name Mining Bees build their nest by making mines in the ground, preferable sand. They especially enjoy firm sandy soils with no overgrow. That's why various species are noted by people. They build their nests in sandy paths. These paths have everything a mining bee requires: dry, well established sand and no plants threatening to either overgrow the nest or destroy it by means of their roots.

There's plenty of nests in a sandy bank of the pond behind my house. So I think it's quite possible this is one of the mining bees.

As for the flower the bee feeds on. It's a wild Chicory known also as Blue Sailors. The plant is a common weed here but I like it a lot. It looks like a small shrub covered with lovely blue flowers.
wallhalla15, honza, PDP, Dando, scottevers7, TAZ, limier, phlr, liquidsunshine, coasties, eruyanik, red45 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Monica,
What a beautiful blue, nice background. Focusing on bee is good...
Thanks for sharing.

Monika, this is a great photo. Great colours, excellent sharpness, a very nice composition. TFS.

Hi Monika,
Very nice macro shot!
Beautifully composed with blue/golden/green colours.
Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • honza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 537 W: 0 N: 716] (4191)
  • [2006-03-01 4:45]

Very nice picture with beautiful colors. Sharpness and composition are perfect too. TFS

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2006-03-01 4:54]

Hello Monika, doesn't look like he is doing much mining there. Lovely composition and good details. You handle that camera so well, the colours are great.

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-03-01 4:58]

Hi Monika, beautiful composition of this bee at work. Good colour, detail and POV. TFS.
Dean.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2006-03-01 6:43]

Félicitations Monika!

L'éclat danl la lumière est superbe et fait bien ressortir les couleurs et les détails.

Belle composition.`
Merci,


joseph

Hi Monika,
An outstanding photo! The colors are very vivid. Detail is nice and sharp with good DOF all around the bee. The green OOF backround really looks great and enhances this shot well.
Scott

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2006-03-01 7:35]

What a beautiful and interesting "Bourdon roux" that you have very well captured ! The composition is nice. I also appreciate the complementary note... Congratulations Monika and thanks for sharing.

Well done Monika
Nice job again and again.

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1241 W: 129 N: 881] (2814)
  • [2006-03-01 7:51]

Very beautiful photo Monika!
Excellent on details!
Wonderful colours and BG!
Very good DOF too!
TFS!

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-03-01 11:02]

Hello Monika!
Very nice close up.I liked POV,colors,details,framing and
visual impact a lot.TFS...:-)

Lovely capture Monika,
The DOF is perfect, colours, sharpness and detail are excellent.
Well composed, good framing and nicely exposed. as always great notes from such sweet photographer ;)
Thanks for posting, enjoy the rest of the week my friend.

Hi Monika

This shot works well. Nice composition, great POV. I like the colours and the clarity is excellent. Nice work. TFS. :-)

Hi Monika,
pretty good details and delightful colours.
Thank you. Best regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2006-03-02 3:25]

Hi Monika!

Very interesting subject, this fat bee looks great. Maybe it is lost chain between bees and bumble bees ;-) ? Colorfull, sharp and detailed.

What a pretty background for your subject Monika, the lighting is perfect for this beautiful capture. :)

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 962 W: 0 N: 89] (7801)
  • [2006-03-07 14:55]

Hi Monica,
Beautifully well composed with blue/golden/green colours.My favorite blue color.
Thanks for sharing!
osse

hello monika.
your gallery one has to traverse can only it photo choose, they are all very belles.celle-Ci is superb, the blue of the flower and the details of the bee.
thank you.
Laurent

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