Red Mason Bee by Enmos

Photography • Macro • posted on May 27, 2005

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Description

Thanks for viewing !! :o) -- I screwed up on an identification some time ago. The "Andrena nigroaenea" is really the Red Mason Bee, just like the one in todays image *shame* - Red Mason Bee, Osmia rufa The Red Mason Bee is a solitary bee. That is, each nest tube is the work of a single female working alone; unlike the honeybees and bumblebees, there is no worker caste of sterile females. It is widely distributed in continental Europe and even penetrates into the Mediterranean region. They are covered with a dense, gingery fur. The males are 6-11mm long with a dense tuft of white hairs on the front of the head. The more robust females are 10-16mm in length. Their heads are entirely black-haired and is larger and squarer than that of the males. This is to accommodate the large muscles associated with the powerful jaws used to excavate mud. The species has an annual life cycle. Males and females emerge in early spring (late March to April) and mate. Females then seek out suitable nest sites usually beetle borings in dead wood, hollow plant stems, or irregular cavities in stones and old walls. Each nest tube comprises a series of cells. The female starts her first cell at the back of the nest. She makes 10 to 15 foraging trips to collect sufficient pollen to provision each cell. The pollen is mixed with a little nectar and this acts as a food source for the single egg, which she lays immediately before sealing the cell with a mud partition. The process is repeated until the tube is filled with a row of about 6 to 10 cells. Hope you like :o) - Thanks for all your wonderful comments on my last upload, "Brimstone (for Danny)" !! -- Many thanks, Jeroen

Comments (42)

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nongo

2:23AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

Brilliant macro shot Jeroen, you are amazing!!!!

pixelatorz

2:29AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

brilliant macro and some nice info about this one :) keep up the excellent work :D

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Zacko

2:34AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

YAAAAAAAY!!! Finally im back to witness all your incredible macros once again!!! WOOOHOOO!!! I sured missed them, i can assure you!!! And you increased the size of your notes.....THANK YOU!!!!! LOL!!! I often found it hard to read them...im sooo lazy, not blind...la la.. Gorgeous macro once again my friend, always a pleasure looking at them. Have a wonderful friday #:O)

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francinechristophe

3:17AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

Absolutely stunning compo !

PapaGuru

3:23AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

So you screwed something up hey, :p, but not this shot and the fine compo!!

pimbotin

3:52AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

SO YOU MADE A MISTAKE!!! What will you do to survive to this shame, poor Jeroen? ;-).. Have a good w-e, this one is gorgeous!

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Sekadhar

3:54AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

Superb macro...excellent shot!*****!

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zulaan

4:05AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

Wow ! A pure beauty ! Love the colors and all composition ! Perfect ;)

thesymphonyofthelife

4:20AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

excellent photographiy with nice shade of the colors and lightning. have a good day. have a good day

parb1194

5:15AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

Beautiful macro and incredible detail. AWESOME!!!! ;o)

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MaydaMason

5:19AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

agree with all above! impressive details!

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KPK

6:18AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

Super details and colors!

BorisB

6:27AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

Another masterpiece! Perfect macro with wonderful colors!

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SNAKEY

6:38AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

This is aboslutely gorgeous looking bug.......I love it mate.:O))

Nasht

6:51AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

I just want to know how do you do that man? I mean how do you find them and how could you just make absolutely perfect shots everytime you shoot!!! :) I wanna do that tooooo!!!! :( V

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odie

6:54AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

A fabulous image. The lightweight bee looks heavy on this delicate flower! :0)

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pm_hackworth

7:05AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

Wow! Now THAT's a bee picture! You should have been honest though and told them I took it! Shame on you! LOL! (just kidding Rosity buds...you know I didn't take it!) VOTE

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watapki66

7:56AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

Excellent image, the selective depth of field is perfect!

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Margana

8:27AM | Fri, 27 May 2005

I love that little pink thing hanging down.It looks almost like he tied a bow on the end of his tail.(I know they don't have tails,btw,Lol.)Wonderful macro yet again!

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