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To be a bee or not a bee

Hot Mama Bearz

Hot Mama Bearz

Now that is the question.  I already know the answer to this but I thought some of you may get a kick out of this.
 
The other day, I was tickled pink to see some new recent visitors to my butterfly bushes.  We do have some bees, but not a whole lot.  Except...  This little buggar was mutated!  Or was it? If you would like to see more pics of this critter, just let me know.
 
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And as a bonus, I want you to see why I have butterfly bushes.  Not only are they and its visitors both lovey, but my coonies love to chase the butterflies and it gets them some exercise, ya know?  The bees and ladybugs love em also and my one garden is right near the bushes.  I highly recommend butterfly bushes.  Oh and the second and third years are the best with the visitors.
 
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Hot Mama Bearz said:
So what do you think of my, "bee"?
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     I know there are all sorts of bees with different patterns of stripes, colors and degrees of fuzziness. But, honestly, I've never seen anything like that one. Somebody around here probably has an idea, though.
Hot Mama Bearz said:
 
Ok I will give it away..  He is a......  Hummingbird Clearwing Moth.  AKA a faux bee...  Isn't that thing unique?
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     Dammit. ;) I know there are species of moths in which the females don't have wings. I was going to guess that until I looked closer and saw wings, but didn't see any feathery antennae. Neat!
     The clear wings remind me of squash vine borer moths. I hate them with every fiber of my being.
 
Hybrid Mode 01 said:
 
     I know there are all sorts of bees with different patterns of stripes, colors and degrees of fuzziness. But, honestly, I've never seen anything like that one. Somebody around here probably has an idea, though.
Click to expand...
Look up one post above yours for the answer as to what it is.  Those things have been visiting every day and aren't afraid of people either,  Just like regular butterflies.  Never saw anything like this in my 52 years....
 
 

Hybrid Mode 01 said:
 
     The clear wings remind me of squash vine borer moths. I hate them with every fiber of my being.

 
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I think these things are kewl,  They just like to hang out on my butterfly bushes.  
 
Heckle said:
I have all kinds of pollinators.
 
The metallic green ones are pretty cool.
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What metallic green bees?  Very Interesting...  
 
To be honest most of our bees are gone.  I can walk barefoot through clover without any worries,  How sad...    If it wasn't for the butterfly bushes we wouldn't have any this year,  Those are a god send!
 
Heckle said:
Not my pic but ya...they mostly hang around my chives when theyre flowering.
 
Agapostemon-green-bee-600x600.jpg
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Just Beautiful!  Never realized that there was more than the usual yellow or tan with black bees.
 
We used to have a handful of different types of bees.  Now it is two and we have more bumblebees than anything.  The nasty yellow jackets and sweat bees are gone.  Funny how they aren't appreciated until they are gone from that colony collapse disorder.  The bees that we saw last year were very sluggish, then we saw zero after that.  Even the wasps and hornets are gone.
 
Hot Mama Bearz said:
 
Just Beautiful!  Never realized that there was more than the usual yellow or tan with black bees.
 
We used to have a handful of different types of bees.  Now it is two and we have more bumblebees than anything.  The nasty yellow jackets and sweat bees are gone.  Funny how they aren't appreciated until they are gone from that colony collapse disorder.  The bees that we saw last year were very sluggish, then we saw zero after that.  Even the wasps and hornets are gone.
Click to expand...
 
We still have all those 3 hours north of you. Yes, PA not CO. You can come get some yellowjackets and hornets if you want.
:P
 
Heckle said:
 
We still have all those 3 hours north of you. Yes, PA not CO. You can come get some yellowjackets and hornets if you want.
:P
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Really?  3 hours north?  Why us and not you?  Maybe all the roundup used for homes?  I heard that Monsanto's roundup may be to blame.  And you have green bees also, and I have never seen one?  How strange!    This does make me feel better since we can't live without bees.
 
Hey 3 hours north, you in Erie?   My daughter lives 2 hours north in Meadville.
 
So how are the stink bugs this year for you?  That super cold year two years ago nearly wiped them out,  This winter finished the job!  Woo hoo!
 
I used to sunbathe under a hornets nest.  They would fly right over my face and body.  Those things were never mean if you left them be,
 
Hot Mama Bearz said:
Now that is the question.  I already know the answer to this but I thought some of you may get a kick out of this.
 
The other day, I was tickled pink to see some new recent visitors to my butterfly bushes.  We do have some bees, but not a whole lot.  Except...  This little buggar was mutated!  Or was it? If you would like to see more pics of this critter, just let me know.
 
036.jpg

 
 
And as a bonus, I want you to see why I have butterfly bushes.  Not only are they and its visitors both lovey, but my coonies love to chase the butterflies and it gets them some exercise, ya know?  The bees and ladybugs love em also and my one garden is right near the bushes.  I highly recommend butterfly bushes.  Oh and the second and third years are the best with the visitors.
 
069.jpg

030.jpg

012.jpg

007.jpg
Click to expand...
That was a hummingbird moth I like them some folks think there bumble bees or Carpenter bees
I was really into butterflies & Moths & insects in general as a kid still like them
Hot Mama Bearz said:
 
Ok I will give it away..  He is a......  Hummingbird Clearwing Moth.  AKA a faux bee...  Isn't that thing unique?
Click to expand...
Yes they are very cool didn't see this before I posted lol
I once had a Luna moth get lose in my room as a kid & lay eggs everywhere lol
 
Plantguy76 said:
That was a hummingbird moth I like them some folks think there bumble bees or Carpenter bees
I was really into butterflies & Moths & insects in general as a kid still like them
Yes they are very cool didn't see this before I posted lol
I once had a Luna moth get lose in my room as a kid & lay eggs everywhere lol
Click to expand...
Yeah I like bugs also.  They have lives too, just like us, so I rightly can't see stomping on them.  My MIL once swept up mine and my daughters pet spider in the kitchen.  We called her Charlotte while we read Charlotte web.  :(
 
Now I don't get crazy over them either especially those huge hairy jumping spiders.  (Those things are actually vicious.)  But I do try to respect insects and their beauty.
 
Hot Mama Bearz said:
Really?  3 hours north?  Why us and not you?  Maybe all the roundup used for homes?  I heard that Monsanto's roundup may be to blame.  And you have green bees also, and I have never seen one?  How strange!    This does make me feel better since we can't live without bees.
 
Hey 3 hours north, you in Erie?   My daughter lives 2 hours north in Meadville.
 
So how are the stink bugs this year for you?  That super cold year two years ago nearly wiped them out,  This winter finished the job!  Woo hoo!
 
I used to sunbathe under a hornets nest.  They would fly right over my face and body.  Those things were never mean if you left them be,
Click to expand...
 
I'm in Warren. Meadville is where our orthodontist is located.
 
I dont have any problem with stinkbugs. Cucumber beetles are my problem with their wilting bacteria.
 
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