I have lots of bumble bees this year compared to years past, although almost no honey bees. But while I was taking pictures I saw this guy. He is twice the size of the other bumble bees and his wings are different. Not the least bit aggressive, thank goodness, since I followed him around closely to get a couple decent pics.
I believe that is a bumblebee moth. I have a lot of bumbles, and he or she is a LOT bigger than my bumbles.
I found out from the bug forum that it is a robber fly, a Beelzebub Bee-Eater. Although he can eat my bees, he is an interesting part of my garden.
Joy,
With everything you raise there, have you ever considered beehives for the population and the honey?
I have always dreamed of having honey bee hives and getting my own honey. I wanted to get more flowers available for the bees before I located a bee guy. I am hoping maybe next year I can talk to someone about moving a hive out here for a split of the honey. Yum.
Robber fly, yuck, been seeing them in my tomatoes, actually I did see one take a bee one day, I'd obviously slept since then. I have hives. I don't see them out by the hives much right now. Mainly yellow jacket and paper wasp stalkers.
The bumbles are so big I have never seen any get taken successfully, I am for anything that will get red wasps.
I only have Bumble bees this year, too. I usually have loads of honey bees but none this year. It's scary not to see them.
That Robber Fly is very interesting. I haven't seen any but will keep my eye open for at least one. We've had so many wasps this year, both red or mahogany and black. I've been stung several times this year--a first. You say these Robber Flies will kill wasps? Even though we do have quite a few wild honey bees here (and they seem to be liking the goat weed of all things right now) I would welcome anything that will kill wasps.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/coolmajaka/3310252958/
Ck this picture out Terri.
Coooooolllll! Ha! I still have a mark on the top of my foot where one of the wasps got me. Hope that left a mark, too!
great photo! I have a lot of different varieties of wasps, yellow jackets and honeybees all over my ponds. Haven't seen a Robber Fly in action since about June.
Good to know they will take wasps.
I make a wasp trap, haven't seen what I caught yet. Only takes a 2 liter bottle, some vinegar, banana peel, sugar and, ahem, I think that is it, well plus a little water. Couple of ways to do the bottle design, but the contents have to ferment a few days before it's ready to go outside anyway.
Then either cut a hole in the side about half way down, 1 inch diameter, or cut the top off and hang it upside down inside the bottle (having made the cut just where the top and straight sides meet) You only need 3 or 4 inches of liquid in the bottom of the bottle.
I have what looks like miniature wasps in my yard. Curious little things, red & black, with wings as long as their bodies. Almost like the wings are too small too fly.
Actually, I see them mainly crawling, although I had a swarm of angry ones buzzing around me when I disturbed a potted plant. One flew in my shirt and I expected to be stung, but, it wanted out as badly as I did, LOL!
there are some wasp species that are very beneficial and don't seem to sting at all. I had a little colony of blue-black wasps around my porch light for 12 years and they didn't sting anyone in that time.
I watched these today, and they seem to like flying into the bamboo stakes..maybe for the water that might collect in there?
every bee is foraging for water. One of my dogs got stung today, assuming a wasp or bee was in her wading pool. Gave her a benadryl
