Detail head red mason bee (osmia rufa), made with magnification factor 6 and f/14. It is a single picture made in our garden, using a Canon 7D, a Canon MP-E 65 mm f/2.9 and a Canon 2x teleconverter. The bee was alive and kicking. Osmia rufa is a species of solitary bee, also known as the red mason bee due to its habit of using mud to build small cavities within its nest. The species is most active during the spring and early summer although it can be seen as far as late June. Despite being classed as solitary, these bees are gregarious. The female is larger/broader than the male and has 2 large horns on the head.The female has a much smaller sting than honeybees or wasps.The male has no sting. The size is around 10 mm (source Wikipedia).
Portrait miner bee, made with magnification 8 and f/11 using a Canon 7D, a Canon MP-E 65mm/f2.8 and a 2x Canon Teleconverter. Andrena (Miner bee) is the largest genus in the family Andrenidae, and is nearly worldwide in distribution, with the notable exceptions of Oceania and South America. With over 1,300 species, it is one of the largest of all bee genera. Species are often brown to black with whitish abdominal hair bands, though other colors are possible, most commonly reddish, but also including metallic blue or green. Body length commonly ranges between 8 - 17 mm with males smaller and more slender than females.
Portrait miner bee, made with magnification 6 and f/13 using a Canon 7D, a Canon MP-E 65mm/f2.8 and a 2x Canon Teleconverter. Andrena (Miner bee) is the largest genus in the family Andrenidae, and is nearly worldwide in distribution, with the notable exceptions of Oceania and South America. With over 1,300 species, it is one of the largest of all bee genera. Species are often brown to black with whitish abdominal hair bands, though other colors are possible, most commonly reddish, but also including metallic blue or green. Body length commonly ranges between 8 - 17 mm with males smaller and more slender than females.
