bernhard_jacobi's Favorites

Stentritid male patrolling a Ptilotus plant non-stop
Identified as Stenotritus on Bowerbird by Terry Houston: "Linda, you did well to capture such nice shots of a hovering bee. I can only go to genus, Stenotritus."

tiny bees, 4-5 mm long. Swarming in large numbers around various white surfaces, including the flower heads of Pimelea. Very occasionally they would land, males in pursuit of females clambering among the flowers of the inflorescence. Here a female (black face) appears to be pursued by 2 males (yellow face)

Possibly Lithurgus (Lithurgus) atratus
Identified as Lithurgus Lithurge atratus on Bowerbird by Roch Desmier de Chenon: "Very interesting bee. Seems for me to be a lithurgine bee. Considering that the Sternal scopa is more reddish brown than light reddish brown and tha facial prominence narrower, Austrothurgus rubricatus can be discarded as well Lithurgus atratiformis. Therefore fitting with Lithurgus Lithurgus atratus Smith. Confirmation is needed by other taxonomists."

ID by Roch Desmier de Chenon - "Hi Simon, again a very interesting Nomiinae. Lipotriches s. Stricto Subgenus Rhopalomelissa. Oriental species 28, only two reaching North Australia. The right name is now Lipotriches Rhopalomelissa modesta (Smith), Syn. L. halictella Ckl. and L. williamsi Ckl. Lipotriches Rhopalomelissa modesta (Sm.) is known apparently only from Qld : Brisbane. Mackay, Halifax, Cardwell, Mt Carbine, Townsville, Brampton, W. Emerald, Mapleton. Therefore it seems yr observation is the first in WA Durack. There is another species in Qld bigger. Rhopalomelissa pulchriventris (Cam.). Instead of Austronomia collecting pollen Myrtaceae. Asteraceae. Phormiaceae, the Rhopalomelissa are collecting pollen only on Grasses, Poaceae. Very few is known about the behaviour of this species. Have u noted this, and may be u can collect on grasses more specimens for better study. Interested to have some. Tks."

Being preyed on by a crab spider.

Bowerbird.org.au record being moved to iNaturalist because the former website is shutting down.

Bee near Uluru
Identified as Hylaeus Euprosopellus dromedarius on Bowerbird by Ken Walker: "Close to H. elegans but differs on subtle colour markings and mesoscutal sculpture."

Black Bee with Red Shoulders
Identified as Lasioglossum Callalictus callomelittinum on Bowerbird by Roch Desmier de Chenon: "Seems to be a male of Callalictus callomelittinum. Beautiful and rare photo."