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Archive 2009 · Anthidium oblongatum

M Vers
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p.1 #1 · Anthidium oblongatum

Finally had a chance to shoot the male of this species of Leaf Cutter/Wool Carder Bee. The males seem to be extremely territorial, fending off nearly every insect around two patches of lambs ear in my yard--flying back and forth waiting and looking for females to arrive. When a female shows up they promptly track her down, wait for her to land on an unsuspecting lambs ear flower and then they strike, latch on and do their business for about 10-30 sec depending on how feisty she is. I haven't got a decent image of the two together yet but I'll post one as soon as I do. The male is about 1.5x larger than the female.
One of the two males wasn't feeling all too well, I believe it may be parisitized via a Thick-Headed fly. Strangely enough he would rest for minutes at a time, seemingly down for the count, but afterwords would rise back up and go about it's business as if it was 100%
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2444/3686806802_5eb60caa5f_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/3686002949_4c98505e28_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2572/3686801712_5b8aa07199_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2569/3686804566_c270fb0313_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3633/3686800606_1569e86591_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/3686795546_3b2fc0df78_b.jpg

Here is an older shot of the female
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3637334066_2b57c7634a_b.jpg
And the suspected Thick-Headed Fly, which had attacked one of the bee's prior to this shot.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2566/3685994607_f8e15dffeb_b.jpg

Matt

Jul 04, 2009 at 10:46 AM

MarkB1
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p.1 #2 · Anthidium oblongatum

Very nice shots. Nature never lies down on the job.

Mark

Jul 04, 2009 at 10:19 PM

M Vers
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p.1 #3 · Anthidium oblongatum

MarkB1 wrote:
Very nice shots. Nature never lies down on the job.

Mark

Ain't that the truth. Thank you, Mark

Jul 04, 2009 at 11:09 PM

orionmystery
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p.1 #4 · Anthidium oblongatum

Nice set..esp like #2 and #6. That conopid fly is nasty!

Jul 04, 2009 at 11:19 PM

LordV
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p.1 #5 · Anthidium oblongatum

Lovely series- wonderful looking bee and I'd love to find that conopid fly

Brian V.

Jul 05, 2009 at 12:47 AM

michael kilner
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p.1 #6 · Anthidium oblongatum

lovely shots

Jul 05, 2009 at 07:43 AM

M Vers
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p.1 #7 · Anthidium oblongatum

Thanks, Fellas. Brian, I hope you get a hold of a Conopid as well...I'd love to see what you could do with it.

Jul 05, 2009 at 09:32 AM

_evt_
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p.1 #8 · Anthidium oblongatum

Nice set, I like the framing on the first shot!

Jul 05, 2009 at 07:53 PM

M Vers
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p.1 #9 · Anthidium oblongatum

Thanks, Eric

Jul 06, 2009 at 06:07 AM

tinamarie52
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p.1 #10 · Anthidium oblongatum

Very nice. #2 is my favorite.

Jul 06, 2009 at 07:49 AM

Kenj8246
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p.1 #11 · Anthidium oblongatum

Cute little buggers, Matt. Agree on #2.

Kenny

Jul 06, 2009 at 11:35 AM

M Vers
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p.1 #12 · Anthidium oblongatum

Aren't they though? Thanks, Kenny--as always

Jul 06, 2009 at 02:29 PM

M Vers
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p.1 #13 · Anthidium oblongatum

tinamarie52 wrote:
Very nice. #2 is my favorite.

First BIF for me

Thanks, Chris.

Jul 06, 2009 at 02:30 PM

Adrian Jones
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p.1 #14 · Anthidium oblongatum

A lovely series, another vote for the second shot here.

Adrain

Jul 06, 2009 at 04:29 PM


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