Paracolletes, m, australia, side
Paracolletes species, On and Off Bee, specimen collected in Australia
This species is unusually sexually dimorphic in color. The males are quite bright, as can be seen here, the females are what might be called the “null hypothesis” for bee coloration – brownish grey on the head and thorax with a black abdomen with white transverse hair bands. They are very fast flying bees. Laurence caught a series of males as they flew rapidly from the beautiful flowers of Grevillea in Western Australia. These flowers contain so much nectar that after a couple of attempts the net became sticky. The males were searching for females which seemed much less common. Indeed, Laurence caught only two of them, and, to his embarrassment, let one of them go when it stung him.
Further in Summer than the Birds
Pathetic from the Grass
A minor Nation celebrates
Its unobtrusive Mass.
No Ordinance be seen
So gradual the Grace
A pensive Custom it becomes
Enlarging Loneliness.
Antiquest felt at Noon
When August burning low
Arise this spectral Canticle
Repose to typify
Remit as yet no Grace
No Furrow on the Glow
Yet a Druidic Difference
Enhances Nature now
-- Emily Dickinson. Original public domain image from Flickr