Little Heart, Big Hearted …
Mother Carpenter Bee making the nest early 2013 – a rare appearance as she tossed debris
Male Carpenter Bee feeding on nearby flowers
The best I could get – he’s big and fast – I was lucky
It’s a male Carpenter Bee, I think. It has been occupying the nest excavated in 2013 by the female/mother – I believe – Carpenter Bee. The nest is in a two inch thick stick I had to secure to a metal rod after it rotted in the ground – soft wood.
Then I built the no-till garden beds and recently, a week or so ago, sowed some seed that needed shade from the hot sun, and the shade got in the bees way of returning home – that I noticed one day, having already missed it.
So I remedied the situation, I thought, only to find something else had acted to block the nest for a short while. And no bee to be seen for days now. I wonder if it has another nest somewhere …
I doubt its little heart could survive the rigours of homelessness for long, not like people do. People, it seems, can adapt to almost anything … almost.
We can usually retreat, recover and renew – if the situation allows.
*And just after posting this he returned to the nest.
© Mark Berkery … CLICK any picture to enlarge in a new tab …
*
Nature's Place 
How you get that close to the insects? do you work in studio or outdoors?
The short answer? Carefully, respectfully … all detail is covered in https://beingmark.com/macro-illustrated/
Mostly outdoors, occasionally an insect comes into the house and I have to catch it. Then I might take the opportunity to get a few shots if its amenable.
Gorgeous pics, and I love your philosophical reflections. H x
Thanks H …
such good pics!
Ta mate …
Very happy to read the ending. Your ‘best I could get’ would be a once in a lifetime best for me.
Hi Emily. It may be the/a shot of ‘my’ lifetime too. Some things only happen once.
And everything cycles round again, in some form, at some time …
Such a awe inspiring photo!
It’s the bee really. What I do doesn’t seem so significant …
These are amazing photos and I like the info. Here in Spain we have some very blue black carpenter bees and a wooden roof! No problems yet and no photos yet but will be inspired by you to try and capture them.
Thanks Georgina. There appear to be many kinds of this bee, not surprising given the wood on the planet … :-)
I think they only work softer wood though, so your roof may be safe …
Thanks and hope so!
Neat :)
Ta :-)
Amazing pictures! Mark, you do not know the scientific name but you gave lovely name for this beautiful bee.
Thanks Alexander. It is a beauty …
Mark, do you by any chance know the scientific name for this species of Carpenter Bee?
Down the page a bit Marc – http://www.wildlife.org.au/wildlife/speciesprofile/invertebrates/greatcarpenterbees.html – looks like the male anyway, on the right. Sorry, don’t know much about the science/names.
Thanks
No problem …
awesome.. it’s just going natural :)
that little yellow bee is really beautiful :D
He is a beauty …
Fantastisch!!!
:-)
Looks like the carpenter bees do good work – as do you!
Thanks Lyle …
I think bees are more resourceful than we can imagine. Your photographs of the Teddy Bear bee are beautiful. I love watching the bees in their nests but I’ve never found a Carpenter Bee’s nest yet. Amelia
They are at least as we are Amelia, resourceful. Tis our nature after all. It’s more likely a male Carpenter Bee though, just found out.
Great series, never saw such a carpenter bee.
Thanks. Actually, the furry one might be a male Carpenter Bee and not a Teddy Bear Bee.
Lovely photos. I hope the bees have a good season in your garden, and survive their temporary displacement. Best wishes, WG
Thanks WG. So do I, water permitting.
Just went to water some plants and there she was, checking out the bamboo next to the nest, and into the nest she went.
;-) I’m sure she was magnetized by your love and compassion
I couldn’t say … maybe symbolic …
What stunning photos of the Teddy Bear Bee. So cute and mighty at the same time!
Thanks M. It’s a beauty all right.