Amegilla sp., Blue-banded bee

Swan Coastal Plain, Perth, Western Australia

The genus Amegilla contains many species of Blue-banded bee, which are very hard to distinguish to the amateur eye. Hence I am still unsure which species this particular bee belongs to. I commonly see these bees around my area during the warmer months, where they dig into soft loam or clay to excavate their nesting burrows. Each female will create her own tunnel system, creating small cells for each of her eggs and developing larvae. These small compartments are supplied with pollen and nectar to cater for the protein and carbohydrate needs of the developing bee.

Photographed for the Meet Your Neighbours international nature photography project in Perth, Western Australia.

Canon EOS 7D with Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro lens; 1/250s at f/16 ISO 250, flash fired: from hand.