I was sitting, enjoying the rare Pacific Northwest sunshine. I had gazed at the distant view, examined the closer view, and I had gotten down to noticing details. Like the bees.
These bees are smaller than honey bees. They fly close to the ground. Not too odd, seeing as how the flowers in my little ridge top clearing are also close to the ground. But these bees don't seem interested in the flowers.
They keep landing on bare patches of dirt, on pebbles, on rocks. They pause one or two seconds, then buzz off to another bit of dirt or rock. I guess collecting pollen isn't their thing. At least not today. But what are they up to? It's not like I can get down there and see, because, zip, they're gone. I can't even get a photo.
Hmmmm, maybe they're pouncing on bugs too small for me to notice. Carnivorous bees. The dreaded "meat bees" some friends say infest the Sierras? Uuuumm, no. Meat bees are actually yellow jackets, and I know them when I see them. These are smaller and less pointy. They're something else. Miners? Hole nesters? This quote is not encouraging:
"...the Willamette Valley is home to 250 bee species, and the deserts east of the Cascade Range hold 600 to 800 species."
Any apiary nerds out there with an answer? The Mt. Hood Rock-hopper Bee?
All I know is our dog got into a nest of ground bees under our porch one time and the stings nearly killed him. He was totally covered with bees. Good thing the vet was close.
ReplyDeleteThey sound like bald-faced hornets that build their nests/homes in the ground. Not to be messed with, I can tell you from personal experience! As long as one does not walk near their home, they're inclined to keep to themselves. Woe to the ones who ignore their warning buzzes.
ReplyDeleteI know they weren't hornets. And they were very docile and eager to get out of the way when I walked among them.
DeleteI know they weren't hornets. And they were very docile and eager to get out of the way when I walked among them.
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