So I was out tending my garden yesterday evening a little before 6:00, so still lots of light out, but cloudy. It had rained on and off during the day. I came upon this scene. Looked like bees taking a nap. I've never seen a cluster of them sitting still before. They were hunkered down on some carrot leaves. Some on top of each other. I thought maybe they settled down due to rain.
These are male long-horned bees (genus Melissodes); they often cluster like this when resting at night while the females (usually) remain in their burrows.
http://blog.growingwithscience.com/2009/07/bug-of-the-week-long-horned-bees/
Cool! Thanks so much. Didn't know I had long-horned bees!
