Happy WINTER SOLSTICE 2016

Tiny Treasures: SWEAT BEE and VIRESCENT GREEN BEE

It was a hot sunny August day when this little Sweat Bee landed on my arm. 
It was only a couple millimeters long, but what it lacked in size, it boasted in colors. 
It took to a puddle of sugar water (a hummingbird treat that had spilled out onto a stone) giving me a few precious minutes to photograph it.

The red ball is the head of a sewing pin, just to show a comparison in size.

 The bee does not seem to be too impressed by it.

"Keep that thing away from me, will you?"

Another little gem appeared about 3 weeks later.  
A Virescent Green Bee has been in our garden on several occasions, usually looking for nectar or pollen in the squash patch or on the sunflowers.

The metallic bees belong to a large group called Halictid Bees; small, usually solitary bees who build their nests in the ground.



It may take a long a long time for a person to notice their presence but once found they seem to be re-appearing year after year. 
That probably because there is such a huge difference between looking and seeing.