Posts Tagged: lavender
Who's the Boss of the Lavender?
Some folks refer to them as "those big, black scary bumble bees." They're not bumble bees. They're...
A Valley carpenter bee and a honey bee sharing the same lavender stem. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Close-up of the Valley carpenter bee. You can easily see the pollen dust on her. First and foremost, the Valley carpenter bee is a pollinator. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
"This is mine! This is all mine!" A Valley carpenter bee clings to the top of the lavender stem. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Taking Possession of the Lavender
Possession is nine-tenths of the law. It also applies to bees foraging on lavender. A black-faced...
A black-faced bumble bee, Bombus californicus, stretches between two lavender stems as a honey bee moves in to gather nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
All mine! The black-faced bumble bee, Bombus californicus, takes control. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Fleeting Face of Mr. Van Dyke
He's racing through the lavender patch at breakneck speed, as if he's going to be charged with...
A male bumble bee, Bombus vandykei, sips nectar from a lavender blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Another lavender blossom draws the attention of the male bumble bee, Bombus vandykei. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Side view of the male bumble bee, Bombus vandykei. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Look ma, no head! The male bumble bee, Bombus vandykei, draws nectar through his tongue or proboscis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Privacy, Please!
Privacy, please! You're walking by a patch of lavender and Mexican sunflower (Tithonia) and you...
Two Gulf Fritillaries doing what comes naturally. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A butterfly passing by prompted this Gulf Frit male to react, by opening its wings.. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee "photobombs" the mating Gulf Fritillaries. The butterflies immediately flew away, still attached. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Find the Praying Mantis!
Whether you call them "praying" mantis or "preying" mantis, one thing is for sure: they are...
Late afternoon sun gives away the location of this praying mantis hidden in a bed of lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Dead Tithonia leaves camouflage this praying mantis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A very gravid female hanging out in the lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
These are all green leaves, right? No, there's a green praying mantis here, too. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)