Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, back
Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, back
Melitta haemorrhoidalis, Red-butted Campanula Lover, specimen collected by R.C.L. Perkins in Wotton-under-Edge, England
Melitta is the Greek word for bee, and the name of the favorite activity indulged in by the authors – melittology – is based upon this. Melitta bees are specialists. All bees have some preferences for which sorts of pollen they like to gather for their young, some though, like Melitta, take it to the extreme. All the Melitta species that are well known appear to restrict their pollen gathering activities to single species or small groups of closely related species of plants. Thus in North America, there are Mellita that specialize on members of the Heather family, specifically Cranberry, Deerberry, and Maleberry, while elsewhere in the world preferences differ.
Our friend the Red-butted Campanula Lover pictured here is the most common of the Melitta species in Europe. As the name implies, it requires patches of Bellflowers to create a successful nest and thus its range overlaps that of these plants. If one looks closely you will see a patch of orangish hairs at the very tail end of the abdomen and you will then know how it got its scientific name and the common name we subsequently gave it.
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