Macro Mating Bees

Mating Bees · **2 Likes**

K5, Vivitar 55 macro, sunpak flash.............

Happyman · 03-11-2016, 11:59 AM

That's a cool shot! Can't imagine how you bribed those bees into shooting porn!

Racer X 69 · 04-28-2016, 12:04 PM

Nice photo.

But honeybees don't mate like that.

Quote:

When a virgin queen flies to a site where thousands of male honey bees may be waiting, she mates with several males in flight. A male drone will mount the queen and insert his endophallus, ejaculating semen. After ejaculation, a male honey bee pulls away from the queen, though his endophallus is ripped from his body, remaining attached to the newly fertilized queen.

Read All About Honeybee Reproduction Here

**TER-OR** · 04-28-2016, 01:12 PM

My guess is Andrena.
That's just a guess, send the image to Bug Guide.

sculptor666 · 04-29-2016, 07:21 AM - **1 Like**

must be something in the air... mason bees from last week

**TER-OR** · 04-29-2016, 08:06 AM - **2 Likes**

FYI, the solitary and "primitively social" bees lay female larvae first, so they're deepest in the nest tubes. Males are last, so they hatch first. It's more important to have females tucked away, for the species survival. Then the bees mate early in the season, once done the males will hang on for a while. The females then set about nesting and provisioning for the next generation. It's often easier to find and photograph males since they're not as busy, but are always on the lookout.

Bumblebees are the opposite, males emerge late and mate with freshly-hatched queens. Then only the fertilized queens survive the winter and establish new nests in the spring. Honeybees are something altogether different, with their multi-year colonies.

-Just in case anyone didn't know already-
Join the Native Bee Awareness Initiative on Facebook if you think about it.

compasiune11 · 05-12-2016, 05:09 AM

Nice catch! Good color and contrast!

**FozzFoster** · 08-03-2018, 03:23 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by sculptor666

must be something in the air... mason bees from last week

awesome macro shot here! really well done!

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03-11-2016, 11:59 AM	#2
Happyman Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 68	That's a cool shot! Can't imagine how you bribed those bees into shooting porn!

04-28-2016, 12:04 PM	#3
Racer X 69 Moderator Man With A Camera Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,067	Nice photo. But honeybees don't mate like that. Quote: When a virgin queen flies to a site where thousands of male honey bees may be waiting, she mates with several males in flight. A male drone will mount the queen and insert his endophallus, ejaculating semen. After ejaculation, a male honey bee pulls away from the queen, though his endophallus is ripped from his body, remaining attached to the newly fertilized queen. Read All About Honeybee Reproduction Here

04-28-2016, 01:12 PM	#4
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	My guess is Andrena. That's just a guess, send the image to Bug Guide.

04-29-2016, 08:06 AM - 2 Likes	#6
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	FYI, the solitary and "primitively social" bees lay female larvae first, so they're deepest in the nest tubes. Males are last, so they hatch first. It's more important to have females tucked away, for the species survival. Then the bees mate early in the season, once done the males will hang on for a while. The females then set about nesting and provisioning for the next generation. It's often easier to find and photograph males since they're not as busy, but are always on the lookout. Bumblebees are the opposite, males emerge late and mate with freshly-hatched queens. Then only the fertilized queens survive the winter and establish new nests in the spring. Honeybees are something altogether different, with their multi-year colonies. -Just in case anyone didn't know already- Join the Native Bee Awareness Initiative on Facebook if you think about it.

05-12-2016, 05:09 AM	#7
compasiune11 New Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Brasov Posts: 21	Nice catch! Good color and contrast!

08-03-2018, 03:23 PM - 1 Like	#8
FozzFoster Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by sculptor666 must be something in the air... mason bees from last week awesome macro shot here! really well done!