Author Gary Taylor ◦
I’ve mentioned in a few posts of the punch-ups and brawls that go on between males of the same species fighting over territory and how the different species seem to get along. And I’ll say straight up they’re not great pics, as I’m sure a lot of you will know, you can’t chase native bees, if you race in and stuff a camera in their face they’ll take off. You have to stalk them… watch patiently to see which flowers are getting the attention, then set up on one of those flowers with your camera ready and wait… Provided you remain dead still, when the bees return you’re just part of the furniture and there’s your chance, but I was on the top step of my little step ladder, arms burning with holding the camera up above my head for so long trying to stay dead still, and these are total guess shots 😆 But! It is a classic example of the everyday (all day) goings on… First pic, centre of pic, a little bully Hylaeus (Prosopisteron) decides to attack another male. Just darts in out of nowhere and grabs the poor little bloke in a headlock… Above them is a Euryglossinae, up to the right another Prosopisteron. Both have one antenna curved, the other a bit straighter… Aware of what’s going on but showing it’s none of their business. Second pic, the little Prosopisteron beeing attacked manages to slip out of the headlock, his attacker still on him, but wait… there’s a slightly bigger Euryglossinae flying in (Euryglossinae clinteastwoodi, I think 😄)… Third pic, no muckin’ about, it goes straight in, grabs the attacker in a bear hug and says “Go ahead punk, make my day…”
Ok, some might think I’m stretching it a bit describing how they’re feeling or what they’re thinking but body language is universal amongst all species and bees are very expressive. Their antennae are like the ears, nose and tail of a canine all put together, you don’t need to be a scientist or animal behavioural expert to know what they’re thinking… just gotta be in touch with what we all used to know not that long ago… 🙂
Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
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