Author Marc Newman

This male Dawson’s Burrowing Bee is checking if a female may be forthcoming.

Male Dawson's Burrowing Bee, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni Babbage Island, Carnarvon, WA © Marc Newman
Male Dawson’s Burrowing Bee, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni © Marc Newman
Male Dawson's Burrowing Bee, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni Babbage Island, Carnarvon, WA © Marc Newman
Male Dawson’s Burrowing Bee, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni © Marc Newman

I doubt there was room to turn around and we didn’t see them backing in so this male is probably just entering the outside world.

Dawson's Burrowing Bee, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni Babbage Island, Carnarvon, WA © Marc Newman
Dawson’s Burrowing Bee, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni © Marc Newman

I think she is coming.

Dawson's Burrowing Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni Babbage Island, Carnarvon, WA © Marc Newman
Love takes time for the Dawson’s Burrowing Bees © Marc Newman

Ah! Here she is…

Dawson's Burrowing Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni Babbage Island, Carnarvon, WA © Marc Newman
Dawson’s Burrowing Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni © Marc Newman

Come to me my darling. I love you :-)))

Dawson's Burrowing Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni Babbage Island, Carnarvon, WA © Marc Newman
Dawson’s Burrowing Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni © Marc Newman

They take off looking for some place to hide from predators, sometimes followed by a bunch of other males. Once coupled though it seems the other males have no chance.

Dawson's Burrowing Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni Babbage Island, Carnarvon, WA © Marc Newman
Dawson’s Burrowing Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni © Marc Newman

A few twigs of grass on the side of the road appears to be sufficient cover.

Dawson's Burrowing Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni Babbage Island, Carnarvon, WA © Marc Newman
Dawson’s Burrowing Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni © Marc Newman
Dawson's Burrowing Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni Babbage Island, Carnarvon, WA © Marc Newman
Dawson’s Burrowing Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni © Marc Newman

Love has been found…

Dawson's Burrowing Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni Babbage Island, Carnarvon, WA © Marc Newman
Dawson’s Burrowing Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni © Marc Newman

We had a day at Babbage Island in Carnarvon, Western Australia, the hunt for activity of the Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni. It was Linda Rogan who discovered this nesting site in 2013, along an infrequently used dirt road. The Camel Bush was found at the South West corner of the island (check out our photos in the Bee section on the Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni.


Footnote & References

  1. Photographs Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni, QLD © Marc Newman, Flickr, https://flickr.com/photos/koolbee/albums
  2. Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni < Bee < Insects, Ausemade