A very unusual casing...

has been constructed by bees and consists of a hard shell of sand grains cemented together by a waxy substance. I haven’t been very successful finding anything in the literature about this, and I will keep a watchful eye, especially next spring.

Cemented sand grains forming a casing, 2 x 3 cm in dimension, built and maintained by bees. The bee seen here is approximately 5 mm long.

Here’s a brighter macro shot with scale taken the following day of this amazing casing. It is located on the southern side of a small boulder in the rock garden, so it will be exposed to full sun through the winter.

UPDATE: Thanks to Dr. Harlan Gough for suggesting that this sandy cell has been constructed by a bee belonging to genus Dianthidium, or pebble bees.

Subterranean bee hive under construction...

by the engineering globe mallow bee (Diadasia diminuta) that collects pollen from the globemallow flower that is presently at peak bloom in Castle Valley. It’s quite fascinating to watch their activities, if one has the time and patience.

Vertical tubular “turrets” serve as entrances to the underground hive. The tallest seen here on the right is 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) high.

The inside diameter of the turrets is about 4 mm, but it appears that the subterranean part of the entrance to the hive is slightly larger in size.

Early stages of turret construction after the initial burrow entrance has been excavated. The bees gather finer-grained particles from the ejected material from their diggings and cement the turret with their saliva.

Bee applying saliva to the upper rim of the turret to cement small particles as the turret rises.

Part of the neighborhood still under construction. Note the freshly dug shallow burrow at the far left without a turret.

Fully loaded pollen bags on the hind legs of the globe mallow bee returning to a fully completed part of the hive.

Down the hatch with a heavy load.

Wide view of a portion of the hive.

Covered with pollen particles...

a bee emerges from a prickly pear cactus blossom in the rock garden. On to the next flower, a pollinator’s work is never done.

Prickly pear cactus (genus Opuntia).

NOTE: This image was shot with a handheld 400 mm telephoto lens from a standing position. Nearly as good as a tripod-mounted macro lens close to the subject.

The now-blossoming globemallow...

in Castle Valley is attracting the tiny pollinating bees and I’m on the lookout for their ground-dwelling hives.

Globe mallow bee (Diadasia diminuta) on the common globemallow flower (Sphaeralcea coccinea).

UPDATE: Here’s a shot taken this evening as a bee settles in for a slumber as the blossom closes for the night.

Tiny critters in the wilderness...

of western Montana. It’s hunting season and all the big animals are in hiding so I was shooting small game.

Yellow-pine chipmunk (Neotamias amoenus).

American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus).

Water strider (family Gerridae) illustrating the phenomenon of buoyancy through surface tension.

Black widow safari...

last night yields this lovely lady wrapping up a small morsel. There is no mistaking these fascinating creatures with the signature red hourglass on the abdomen. Sometimes I feed them by tossing a cricket into their ratty, but strong, webs!

Female western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus,).

Female western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus,).

Brightly colored velvet ants...

are actually wasps. Males look like true wasps but lack a stinger, while the females (seen here) are flightless and one should be wary when handling them as they have a painful sting.

Female adult velvet ant (Dasymutilla sp.) approximately 1 cm long.

Female adult velvet ant (Dasymutilla sp.) approximately 1 cm long.