First meeting with ground bees

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This was unexpected!
So unexpected, that I didn't have my camera with me when I saw them. I had to run back to the car to get it and start shooting.

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I found Ground Bees! At least that's what Uncle Google tells me. And while searching it also showed me lots of "How to get rid of Ground Bees?" suggestions. Why would anyone want to get rid of them? First of all they are bees! Come on...
Secondly they are just so cute :)

There was about 10 or 15 of those little holes in a small, maybe 0.5 square metre area. Some had a tiny little rock on top to cover the hole, like a door. When the bees were arriving they were lifting in, sneaking in and the rock was going back to place again.

First they check if it is safe...

Ground bee 1.jpg

Slide the door...

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And off she goes!

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I read that they live alone in those holes. But while I was sitting there watching them I would swear there is multiple bees in each home. They were flying off and coming back quite fast.

I managed to catch two of them landing covered in pollen :)

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Ground bees landing 2.jpg

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Slide in..

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Close the gates!

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Here is a little gif of another home.
I wish I made a quick video

beesgif.gif

I was sitting about 50 cm from them and they were watching me too. If I got the camera a bit too close they would stay in and just look. I can to keep my distance to let them work.

Just look at those big eyes :D

Ground bee 5.jpg

Ground bee 6.jpg

Ground bee 4.jpg

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Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos and text are my own.

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