Author Gary Taylor ◦
Banksia bees, part 1 (there’s just too much going on for one post)… Ok, so last week I mentioned just starting to see the usual “Autumn” bees, albeit a month and a half later than usual, well they’re in full swing now, with up to 10 different species seen at a time on one Banksia. And I gotta point out, focal quality is pretty bad in some (it’s hard to photograph multiple bees at different focal points) but these pics are more about the diversity and scale of size difference… and my dislike of the title “Banksia bee” being given to one bee only, but bare with me on that 😄
Righto, 1st pic, five different Hylaeines… up top and out off focus (but also in the 3rd and 5th pic) is Big Al, male Hylaeus (Macrohylaeus) alcyoneus, also called “THE Banksia bee”. Down in the bottom left is Cranky Sangy, a male Hylaeus (Prosopisteron) sanguinipictus, just below Big Al (and also 4th pic), is another male Hylaeus, genus Dunnoae, and in the middle is Dunnoae butlittler and above him a female Dunnoae littlerstill… (more of an observation than an actual ID 😄). 5th pic, although not visible in the first pic, is Big Al with what I’m fairly sure is an out of focus Fronzy, a male Hylaeus (Prosopisteron) vittatifrons… a really chilled out cool but gutsy little dude, great with the chicks. I’d reckon that’s also him in the 6th pic behind Big Al’ (you might have to click on the pic and zoom in to see him), chuckin’ a wheelie ‘cos he’s just seen a bit of talent, and the last pic is the worst focus wise ‘cos it’s a background action crop but it shows a tiny bee flying upside down under the antennae of the biggest and toughest bee in town… now if that wasn’t showing off (or at least an awesome dare) I’ll eat my hat with beans, cheese and sour cream… 😅 (I’m wearing a large packet of Doritos as I type this and got a hankering for nachos so it’s win-win… 😂)
Anyway, to “The Banksia bee” bit… to me it’s like calling a swan “The Lake bird”… Loads of bees like Banksias, some I’ve never seen on any other type of flower but I HAVE seen Big Al, “THE Banksia bee” on other flowers, particularly Hakeas… However, having said that, he really is truly legendary. One thing some might find interesting is seeing so many males on one flower but no fights… Nope, Big Al not only doesn’t allow it on His Banksia, he actually seems to show compassion to the smaller bees (I have a heap of pics showing it) and will actively see off any bee trying to bully another. Even Cranky Sangy, the bulliestly bulling bully that ever bullied just keeps to himself when Big Al is around 😄 So I agree, He deserves a title but it should be a bit more precise, like “Lord of the Banksia Bees” perhaps… or maybe just simply “The Banksianator”… 😆 But nah, “Banksia bee” just doesn’t cut it… 😂
Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Check out more blogs and contribution by Gary Taylor:
Blogs | Lord of the Bees… | More of the Banksia bees…