Jewel Bees Love Fish Emulsion Apparently

[The15thMember]

My mom mixed up a jug of fish emulsion to use while she planted her tomatoes and some starts we had gotten at a local nursery, and she rinsed off the little measuring scoop overtop of the elecampane, just because that is where the hose happened to be. Within 30 minutes, the leaves were covered in little jewel bees, along with a handful of carpenter bees and a few other wild bees.  I couldn't believe it!

If my ID is correct, most of these jewel bees are from the genus Augochlora. Some species are solitary, but some are social, with a life cycle similar to bumble bees and carpenter bees. I'm not sure what the bees with the duller coloration and striped abdomens are, perhaps a species of Andrena? There is also a green bottle fly trying to blend in with the jewel bees in one of the pictures.

It never ceases to amaze me how many different little bees are in our yards and gardens, quietly and often thanklessly working to pollinate our plants!

[Bakersdozen]

It never ceases to amaze me how many different little bees are in our yards and gardens, quietly and often thanklessly working to pollinate our plants!

That's a good sign of a healthy environment.