Posts Tagged: Tithonia rotundifola

Let's Roll!

Let's roll! During the golden hour, right before sunset, have you ever watched a male longhorned...

A male Melissodes agilis barreling over a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male Melissodes agilis barreling over a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Fiery Skipper Likes 'Places Where People Mow Lawns'

Ah, the fiery skipper, Hylephila phyleus! They are, as UC Davis distinguished professor...

A fiery skipper, Hylephila phyleus, takes flight. The flower is the Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A fiery skipper, Hylephila phyleus, takes flight. The flower is the Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Defensive Measures: Leave Me Alone!

Have you ever seen the defensive antics of a female longhorned bee, sometimes called a...

A male Melissodes agilis dives toward the female of his species, but she's not interested. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male Melissodes agilis dives toward the female of his species, but she's not interested. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

In a defensive, leave-me-alone measure, the female Melissodes agilis kicks at the male. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

In a defensive, leave-me-alone measure, the female Melissodes agilis kicks at the male. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male Melissodes agilis flies off, leaving the female alone, but not for long. He'll be back. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male Melissodes agilis flies off, leaving the female alone, but not for long. He'll be back. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Get Off My Turf!

Get off my turf! The native bees known as Melissodes, the longhorned bees, start...

A male Melissodes agilis pauses to sip nectar from a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male Melissodes agilis pauses to sip nectar from a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Get off my turf! A male Melissodes agilis bops another male of the species. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Get off my turf! A male Melissodes agilis bops another male of the species. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"I said get off my turf." The male Melissodes agilis trying to claim territorial rights.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"I said get off my turf." The male Melissodes agilis trying to claim territorial rights.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bumble Bees and Tithonia: Perfect Match

A perfect match: a bumble bee foraging on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. Lately we've...

A bumble bee, identified as a male Bombus californicus, foraging on Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A bumble bee, identified as a male Bombus californicus, foraging on Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male California bumble bee, Bombus californicus, peeks through the flower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male California bumble bee, Bombus californicus, peeks through the flower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Over here is better. A male Bombus californicus foraging on a Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Over here is better. A male Bombus californicus foraging on a Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male California bumble bee, Bombus californicus, takes flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male California bumble bee, Bombus californicus, takes flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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