Non-honey bees

I was asked to draw a cartoon about a male Megachile lagopoda. Stephanie Rübenach, a wild bee photographer, told me that she likes these bees because of their habit of rushing at everybody sitting on a flower – be it another bee, or a fly, or even a butterfly… Yes, male bees can be little bullies. Some of them aggressively defend their little territories (have I ever told you about Anthidium manicatum?) but often it is rather curiosity and eagerness to mate than aggression. They just have to make sure this butterfly over there is not a female of their own species. 

If you want to see Stephanie’s excellent bee photos, check out this instagram account!