Spectacular work and post, Walter -- a classic in natural history, replete with your inquisitiveness, determination, knowledge, and still more questions for the next field season. Perhaps you'll publish on this? And might you get any specimens identified to species?
Thanks, Bryan, I will probably get them identified to species next spring. If you mean publish in a journal, I think not. I am kind of over doing that, having done it over 150 times. Now it's just fun and self-satisfaction.
Oh, of course -- more than 150 publications. Gosh, I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to make the connection to you and your work over the decades. (Yikes! I'm mortified.) Well, it's not too late. I've got lots of great reading ahead of me at your Substack, especially once the field season ends. (I usually spend a month or so of winter in Gainesville working in the McGuire Center's lep collection and among the odonates at FSCA. Lots of reading and writing then as well.) And I believe I owe you a much better response about sperm competition among Odonata.
No problem, Bryan. Nothing to be mortified about. As for sperm competition, that's an interesting topic. Life is pretty rough among male dragonflies. Just when you think you have finally made your deposit for your future, along comes a guy with a turkey baster and your future is toast. Good luck with your leps and odonates!
I noticed that there is quite a large patch of clover blooming around the aggregation. Would that be the bees' source of nectar? The genus name Andrena makes me think of a high school friend who was named Aurelia by her father, a professor at the nearby university. I loved her name and told her that I would consider using it to name a future daughter. Aurelia told me that it wasn't the Latin meaning of the name (golden) that inspired her dad but rather the moon jellyfish he once studied. After hearing her say that, even though I still loved her name, I opted for a more common name for my daughter when she was born.
Yes, there is clover, but the bees are reported to forage mostly flowers in the rose family. I haven't seen them try clover. Yes, Aurelia is the moon jelly, but it's a beautiful creature, so why not? I toyed with the idea of naming our daughter Cholla because I liked the sound of it, but the association with spiny things didn't seem to fit.
I guess it was the association with spineless creatures, though beautiful, that drift with the shifting tides, that convinced me to not use the name Aurelia.
I had encountered miner bees in Tallahassee, watched them a bit and marveled at the number of nests, but I never scratched the surface. Your curiosity, tenacity and rigor is a marvel in its own right. Long may you dig!
Fascinating Walter! Thanks for your diligent research and reporting. I see miner bees in the same CA canyon site every year, and I will now have even more appreciation for them thanks to you! 👏
There are thousands of species of solitary bees, most with interesting life cycles. Andrena aren't the only ones that dig burrows. Do you see the male swarms over the nests? Their desperation is touching.
Thanks for this post! My introduction to miner bees came when I realized I'd stepped on a nest and reflexively ran away, then realized nothing was chasing me. Going back to investigate, I found an aggregation of some of the nicest little insects I've ever met.
Another terrific, fascinating essay. So many bees, including in my yard, almost all ground dwelling ones. Your curiosity and investigations are inspiring. Thanks again.
I wrote a whole book about what happens below our feet. It is called Ant Architecture: the Wonder, Beauty, and Science of Underground Nests. Ants make some mighty pretty and interesting nests underground. What you see on the surface is not what you get.
Spectacular work and post, Walter -- a classic in natural history, replete with your inquisitiveness, determination, knowledge, and still more questions for the next field season. Perhaps you'll publish on this? And might you get any specimens identified to species?
Thanks, Bryan, I will probably get them identified to species next spring. If you mean publish in a journal, I think not. I am kind of over doing that, having done it over 150 times. Now it's just fun and self-satisfaction.
Oh, of course -- more than 150 publications. Gosh, I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to make the connection to you and your work over the decades. (Yikes! I'm mortified.) Well, it's not too late. I've got lots of great reading ahead of me at your Substack, especially once the field season ends. (I usually spend a month or so of winter in Gainesville working in the McGuire Center's lep collection and among the odonates at FSCA. Lots of reading and writing then as well.) And I believe I owe you a much better response about sperm competition among Odonata.
No problem, Bryan. Nothing to be mortified about. As for sperm competition, that's an interesting topic. Life is pretty rough among male dragonflies. Just when you think you have finally made your deposit for your future, along comes a guy with a turkey baster and your future is toast. Good luck with your leps and odonates!
I noticed that there is quite a large patch of clover blooming around the aggregation. Would that be the bees' source of nectar? The genus name Andrena makes me think of a high school friend who was named Aurelia by her father, a professor at the nearby university. I loved her name and told her that I would consider using it to name a future daughter. Aurelia told me that it wasn't the Latin meaning of the name (golden) that inspired her dad but rather the moon jellyfish he once studied. After hearing her say that, even though I still loved her name, I opted for a more common name for my daughter when she was born.
Yes, there is clover, but the bees are reported to forage mostly flowers in the rose family. I haven't seen them try clover. Yes, Aurelia is the moon jelly, but it's a beautiful creature, so why not? I toyed with the idea of naming our daughter Cholla because I liked the sound of it, but the association with spiny things didn't seem to fit.
I guess it was the association with spineless creatures, though beautiful, that drift with the shifting tides, that convinced me to not use the name Aurelia.
I had encountered miner bees in Tallahassee, watched them a bit and marveled at the number of nests, but I never scratched the surface. Your curiosity, tenacity and rigor is a marvel in its own right. Long may you dig!
Fascinating Walter! Thanks for your diligent research and reporting. I see miner bees in the same CA canyon site every year, and I will now have even more appreciation for them thanks to you! 👏
There are thousands of species of solitary bees, most with interesting life cycles. Andrena aren't the only ones that dig burrows. Do you see the male swarms over the nests? Their desperation is touching.
Thanks for this post! My introduction to miner bees came when I realized I'd stepped on a nest and reflexively ran away, then realized nothing was chasing me. Going back to investigate, I found an aggregation of some of the nicest little insects I've ever met.
Kay, you forget to mention that they are also among the cutest...
Excellent intriguing story of discovery. Thanks Walter.
Another terrific, fascinating essay. So many bees, including in my yard, almost all ground dwelling ones. Your curiosity and investigations are inspiring. Thanks again.
I am happy to inspire you!
So much happening just under our feet. 👣 Amazing to see the depth and stepping of the tunnels. Reminds me of the ancient Egyptian burial chambers.
I wrote a whole book about what happens below our feet. It is called Ant Architecture: the Wonder, Beauty, and Science of Underground Nests. Ants make some mighty pretty and interesting nests underground. What you see on the surface is not what you get.
I can only repeat all the praise above. A very wonderful essay.
Thanks, Michael! And I will pass your appreciation on to the bees next February.