The End Is Near
Member
So I was just in the garden and I noticed this bee acting odd around the basil patch. It never went to the flowers like some of the other bees were, but caught my attention by very persistently attacking this other bee like it was on a vendetta. I watched for a solid 5 min as this bee purposely scanned the basil patch to find where the intruder was hiding, before viciously attacking it, chasing it around the yard and into the street, and making me duck under their wrestling bodies. I'm sure the intruder got stung, as it seemed to be struggling to fly when it broke free. In the next 10 minutes two more bees were attacked this way, and the guard bee even went as far as to chase away a butterfly, attack a falling leaf, and even go after a formation of birds flying overhead.
Not once did it go for a flower, and now an hour later it's still outside on patrol. I'm sure it's sole purpose is to monopolize the basil patch by only allowing it's sisters and nothing else into the patch of basil flowers, since it regularly "scans" the bees it doesn't attack to make sure it's a sister bee.
I tried to take a picture, but it's too erratic. Somehow I know it'll be back tomorrow. I know it's her by her slightly smaller size and darker thorax fuzz. Here's her patrol area anyway:
And I saw this yesterday. I got the pic just as the last of the 26 grubs broke out from the caterpillar's backside and started to spin a cocoon. The caterpillar was still alive, as it responded when I poked at it.
Not once did it go for a flower, and now an hour later it's still outside on patrol. I'm sure it's sole purpose is to monopolize the basil patch by only allowing it's sisters and nothing else into the patch of basil flowers, since it regularly "scans" the bees it doesn't attack to make sure it's a sister bee.
I tried to take a picture, but it's too erratic. Somehow I know it'll be back tomorrow. I know it's her by her slightly smaller size and darker thorax fuzz. Here's her patrol area anyway:
And I saw this yesterday. I got the pic just as the last of the 26 grubs broke out from the caterpillar's backside and started to spin a cocoon. The caterpillar was still alive, as it responded when I poked at it.