Sometimes doing your chores while covered in sticky pollen and dealing with the persistent wind is A LOT so you chomp on to a flower stamen to take a few moments for yourself before carrying on. [Alameda, CA 7-27-26] #bees #nativebees

Another occasional reminder that phoretic mites come in sizes appropriate to their bees. This little Halictus tripartitus has a single tiny pink mite on her eye. The mites hitch a ride to the nest where they act as a cleanup crew. [Alameda, CA 7-17-26] #bees #nativebees

Speaking of finger sizes… This tiny Bold Jumping Spider earned his or her moniker by not retreating from the enormous thumb looming ever closer. Thank you for your heroic contribution to Thumbparison Science! [Alameda, CA 7-17-26] #spiders

Seasonal disclaimer: I do not have giant finger tips. Dialictus bees are small. This has been my [Finger] Tip Talk. [Alameda, CA 7-17-26] #bees #nativebees

Sometimes a quick phone photo going against the direction of the light works out nicely. That’s it, that’s the whole message. [Alameda, CA 7-15-26] #pollinators #butterflies

We all often see male European Wool Carder bees fighting for turf, but we don’t often see the price - this fellow managed to lose three of his four wings in battle. In fairness the Stachys bush he was on is unusually crowded with males. [Alameda, CA 6-12-26] #bees #nativebees

This very Bold Jumping Spider decided a cooler we left outside overnight was now his giant fortress but eventually I convinced him to skitter onto my hand and get relocated to more appropriate environs. [Alameda, CA 7-12-26] #macro #arachnids #spiders

Too chilly for much native bee activity around lunchtime yesterday, but this male Longhorn bee was still on duty, diligently watching his turf. Side note - yes, he clearly has been doing a lot of pollinating! [Alameda, CA 7-7-26] #bees #nativebees

When Redflower Buckwheat is in full bloom (now, around here), it's insect pandemonium. Normally, you'll see a cuckoo bee occasionally. This bush had so many Nomada cuckoo bees, mostly males, that I got to witness aerial traffic collisions. [Alameda, CA 7-3-26] #bees #nativebees

In sidewalk predicaments of the day, travel charm going into action again this morning rescuing a few Monarch caterpillars..

Another reminder of how sm- Waaaait that’s not it. This Pyrobombus queen is a quality chonker. Also look at her perfect haircut. Clearly also still a youth. [Oakland, CA 6-27-26] #bees #bumblebees #nativebees

“Right on the road with bike and car traffic is the perfect mating spot!” - these Pyrobombus ding-dongs. Travel charm to the rescue once again. [6-27-26] #bees #nativebees #bumblebees #pollinatorweek

Cooler than anticipated at lunchtime yesterday but once again Kincaid’s sweat bees were a reliable sighting. [Alameda, CA 6-26-26] #bees #nativebees #pollinatorweek

Double the Dialictus. It's rare that there are enough little metallic sweat bees in one spot to create a traffic jam, requiring them to politely wait for their turn, but it does occasionally happen. [Alameda, CA 6-23-26] #bees #nativebees #pollinatorweek

You probably don’t need a reminder of how small Metallic Sweat Bee males are, but it doesn’t hurt. Partially presented in SloMoVision. [Alameda, CA 6-22-26] #bees #nativebees #pollinatorweek

Still chilly enough on my walk to work this morning that the one native bee I spotted was this sleeping male Longhorn. 😴 [Berkeley, CA 6-24-26] #bees #nativebees

For those of you in the Bay Area who still have access to actual Live Television, the episode of OpenRoad with Doug McConnell And Friends airing tonight at 6:30 on KNBC has an appearance by yours truly and features the joys of chasing native bees. www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/o...

Longhorn season is slowing down but if you look carefully you can still see groups of males settling in for togetherness sleepy time in the evening. 😴 [Alameda, CA 6-18-26] #bees #nativebees

I never get tired of appreciating Hylaeus bees, always contenders for top “Wait, those are bees?” when you point them out to people. Between them and bright green Agapostemon, quality gateway bees combo. [Alameda, CA 5-26-26] #bees #nativebees

This fearsome male Leafcutter bee diligently patrolling his turf… [Alameda, CA 6-6-26] #bees #nativebees

In this edition of Advanced Bee Grooming 101 - this male Colletes cellophane bee grooming with two of three legs from one side. Quality skills, would recommend. [Alameda, CA 5-23-26] #bees #nativebees

Why are female Melissodes longhorn bees always in a hurry? Because they deal with crazy traffic like this all the time. Dodging a male longhorn bee... who's being chased by a male Megachile perihirta, Western Leafcutter Bee. [Alameda, CA 5-22-26] #bees #nativebees

Hylaeus masked bees are out and about in proper numbers now - enough to cause the occasional traffic jam. [Alameda, CA 5-18-26] #bees #nativebees

Female Melissodes Longhorn bees tend to be both hurrying and skittish because they’re outnumbered by a half-dozen frantic males so this one was unusually cooperative to let me record this clip like that. [Alameda, CA 5-26-26] #bees #nativebees

Your latest occasional reminder that we all remain jealous of bees' superior backscratching skills, as demonstrated by this Halictus tripartitus. [Oakland CA 5-17-2026]

Like trying to eat two corndogs at the same time, the this little Dialictus bee getting a bit greedy story. [Alameda, CA 3-29-2026] #bees #narivebees

Someone told the bees about #WorldBeeDay because on my way home from work after 6pm the native bees in all weight categories were still active. [Alameda, CA 5-20-26] #bees #nativebees

For this #WorldBeeDay, I present this noted innovator Ceratina small carpenter bee who thought “Collecting pollen with six limbs is fine, but if I also use my tongue as a seventh-“ Presented in actual frantic speed vision. [Alameda, CA 5-15-26] #bees #nativebees

Always an unusual sight - a live honey bee drone. They never survive long once ejected from the hive so it must be nearby. I always see them in the same spot. At least he won’t get the indignity of getting stepped on on the sidewalk. [Alameda, CA 5-18-26] #bees

The carpenter bees were already on the move just after 7am this morning. They can sense a 80+ degree day coming. 🥵 [Alameda, CA 5-18-26] #bees #nativebees