Author Cassidy Taylor

This is an interesting photo and video of what is a tiny native bee (Lasioglossum sp). It has what appears to be a water bubble on its mouth and it moves it’s tongue in and out of it. It’s possible this is nectar and by exposing it to air could be concentrating the sugar.

Bubbling Lasioglossum sp, Lennox Head NSW © Cassidy Taylor
Bubbling Lasioglossum sp, Lennox Head NSW © Cassidy Taylor

I wasn’t sure, but yes, it has been confirmed (“bubbling” dehydrates the nectar thus concentrating the sugars.) This is not the first time I’ve witnessed bubbles on the mouth of insects. In the past I’ve seen a number of insects like this as well as a looper caterpillar.

Lennox Head, NSW, Australia.

Bubbling Lasioglossum sp, Lennox Head NSW © Cassidy Taylor

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