Squash bees

Here are some more pictures of bees to help us think of spring! Today I'm sharing a few shots of 'squash bees' Peponapis sp. These bees have a close relationship with the flowers of squash plants (genus Cucurbita). They spend most of their time in and around squash flowers, flying before dawn and until noon - when flowers are open - and spending the day nestled inside the closed flower. The female builds her nest in the ground nearby, and spends her time digging and provisioning the nest with pollen from the squash flower. Males hang out in the flower waiting for females to mate with.

A female bee covered in pollen sticks her tongue out.

A male bee (note the white dot on the nose). Many species of male bees can be distinguished by similar yellow or white face markings.

Male bees hanging around.