ID of small bees?
Thu, 07/16/2009 - 20:54 — Deborah Bee
Have seen a few posts about tiny bees but not much identification info. We have a lot of small bees (which look sort of like quarter-scale honeybees but not fuzzy) along with honey bees in our sunflowers. I've attempted photos (linked to photobucket) but the bees were a bit camera shy and the lighting/contrast isn't optimal. The "Honey bee and Mystery Bee" pic gives an idea of the relative sizes (mystery bee is the blur on the right) and "Little Bees" attempts to show a clearer pic of these little bees.
Tiny bees
I live in the SF Bay Area and have observed the tiny bees also. They do look like miniature honey bees, hairy, carry pollen on back legs, etc. Now that I am involved in this project, I have observed in my yard many varieties of bees-way more that the standard 3 (honey, bumble and carpenter).
baby bees?
I have seen a lot of small bees who might be the babies. They love my sunflowers and I thought they are the babies bees. I am from Montreal Quebec Canada.
Brigitte Peck Ki Laou
more small bee questions
I'm glad to see this information, because I thought I was looking at a wasp or fly of something, and had quite a number of these on my flowers, but I didn't count them as "bees." I'll count them tomorrow though.
Photo of small been
I have a good photo of a small bee taken today in Toledo, OH. I can't find a way to send it via this post. If you will contact me at the email address below, I'll send you a copy.
Regards,
Ernie Lippert
ernielippert@toast.net
Little Bees = Halictids?
I'm no expert, but they look like one of the Halictidae or "sweat bees." They're the right size and markings and are carrying pollen higher on the leg than honeybees do. Similar bee seen here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollen_basket (bottom image on page).
Even though they're not green, I wonder if we should count them as "green bees," since they're closely related. Has any of you seen anything on the site that refers to "sweat bees" or Lipotriches and how they should be counted?
Little bees
I also saw some little bees in my garden today, not sure what they were. I live on the East Slopes of the Washington Cascades.
Little Bees
I am glad to see that others have these bees too and don't know what they are. I have them in my garden. I first saw them this spring in my fruit tree blossoms. They love my sunflowers too. I live in West Jordan, Utah. They did great pollinating my fruit trees, because I have lots of fruit this year!
I saw the reply that said they are "German Honeys" I was wondering if they would produce enough honey for a hive plus some, or if they are too small.
Jenette
little bees
I've just posted a photo of little bees that are very attracted to my sunflowers. It's the post titled 'need an ID'. Can you take a look and see if you think it's the same bee? I'm about 30 miles over the Cal border into Oregon, in the eastern Cascades.
Joan
little bees
Thank heavens - someone else has seen these little guys. I'm in northern Calif. and these little bees (coloration is exactly like honey bees only 1/4th to 1/5th the size) are about 15% of all the bees on my sunflowers. I have digital pictures but can't download the images to this site - as yet.
gardennana
small bees
I discovered a nest this morning underneath my patio tables umbrella stand. I have a "pest control friend" and he has identified these small honey bees as "german honeys"-he said to be cautious as they are very aggressive-I did get stung 3 times!
Little bees in Idaho
4 of my 5 bees seen today were these small bees. Like honey bees, but very small. I'm in Boise, Id. The ones in my garden had black heads and yellow bodies.
"Little" bees
Hi Deborah! I don't know where you are----but I've got those little ones too. I've also posted comments about how much they look like honey bees (pollen on back legs, etc)but have not to date heard what they are. I'm in central coast California--on hwy 101. So I'll be looking for an answere too. C.Josse By the way----great pictures!!