The Humble Bumble Bee
"Buzzy Bee"
8" print in 12" pure white mount £55.00
"Bumble"
8" print in 12" pure white mount £55.00
"Dusty"
A4 print in A3 pure white mount £55.00
With over 250 different species of Bumblebee, i would not even consider trying to identify these.
They typically live in much smaller colonies than their cousins, the Honey Bee. with some being as few as 50 individuals.
There is a species known as the Cuckoo Bumble Bee, and as the name implies it, breaks into the hive, kills the queen and lays its own eggs. These are subsequently cared for by the original residents.
The female can sting repeatedly, though they generally avoid humans and animals. The male however is a one shot deal, after stinging it dies.
All images show bees feeding on the nectar from flowers of the Great Willow, often called Pussy Willow, which are abundant in local woodlands near me.
Mayfly
(Ephemera vulgata)
"May"
A4 print in A3 pure white mount £55.00
For an insect with a relatively short lifespan, who is predated on by everything from fish to birds and various amphibians, they certainly have staying power. They were the first winged insect to evolve, with fossils having been found dating back more than 300 million years. Pre-dating even the Dinosaurs.
It would point to the truth of the old saying, "Size matters," though small is the historical survivor.
Shown: Adult female. Males have a pincer like appendage near their tail.