The Bees Are Back

Yesterday afternoon Sophie came to tell me that the Bradford Pear tree out front was filled with "thousands of bees".   "You should hear the sound, Mommy", she said.  And she was right.  

I was never a big fan of the Bradford Pear tree.  Especially right now when it's at its stinkiest!  After yesterday afternoon, these photos and knowing this tree is loved by my beloved honey bees, I will probably be that tree's biggest defender!  And who knew that the blooms were this beautiful up close???  Not me.

Bee Calm and Carry On!

I've mentioned many times how much I love bees!  When Sophie and I went out to check the mail yesterday, we passed by the Bee Balm to check out any visitors.  WOAH!  I saw bees unlike any that I've seen before (and I studied bees so I've seen a lot!).  They are MASSIVE in size.  I RAN to get the camera.

We have Carpenter bees around our home but these are definitely larger. Substantially larger.

Someone suggested they might be drones.  Not a chance!  I got really close and they have pointy abdomens, a sure sign of females.

They are not even remotely aggressive.  Thank goodness.

Their heads and abdomens are very black.....

......with a lot of dense yellow "fur" near the wings.

I had to do some research and find out what they were.

My best guess is the Giant Resin Bee.  A bee not native to this area but one that was likely introduced from somewhere in Asia in the mid 90's.  North Carolina was the first state to notice their presence.  Fascinating!  I discovered a brand new bee in our yard.  I feel like such a scientist!!!!  

(Someone named that plant Bee Balm for a reason!!!  It's a bee fest at all times of the day.  I love it!)

In other stinging insect news.....

Alain ran in the house this morning and asked me to grab my camera.  He'd found a hornet (?) with a massive green glob in its mouth.  This was the best picture I could get because I only had my small lens with me.  I wish I knew what that green glob was....

I always have a ton of bees on my basil plant so I snapped a quick shot while I was there.  I think this might be that Giant Resin Bee again!

If by chance there's anyone still reading.....thanks for indulging my love of bees!