I had nearly forgotten about the influx of ticks that seem to be everywhere. After living here for 24 years without seeing a single tick, they really weren’t front and center in my mind. So Monday, when I went to photograph bumble bees, ticks didn’t merit a second thought. After packing my camera, I left […] Read more
As you might imagine, I read bee-related articles constantly. I find them in magazines, newspapers, journals, websites, presentations, and everywhere else you can image. Usually, these articles include photos, and this is where the common drone fly, Eristalis tenax, has made its mark. On countless occasions I have written to a publisher and said, “Nice […] Read more
Do you wonder who visits your bee hive at night? Have you thought about which of your hive’s many callers prefer the cover of darkness? Well, some of the smaller guests were recently caught red-handed by Cal Early, a beekeeper living near Olympia. Cal was wondering who was eating the dead bees on his landing […] Read more
This year my backyard and garden have been inundated by tiny Pacific tree frogs, Pseudacris regilla. I have found them on the side of my house, on leaves, flowers, tomatoes, or anywhere else they can sit and bask in the sun. This one was happy to share its perch on a dahlia with a honey […] Read more
Every year I put swarm traps in the trees and place bait hives around the property. Most years I catch two or three swarms, sometimes more. So far this season I’ve captured two, both swarms from my own hives. But yesterday I happened to notice other things in my traps. The lizard below is apparently […] Read more
Sometimes it seems like honey bees are incidental to all the other creatures in my hives. Beyond mites and moths, I have flies, spiders, beetles, springtails, and shrews. Sometimes I see frogs, mason bees, slugs, or earthworms. But this week, it’s mice. Beehives are warm and cozy shelters with plenty of food and entertainment, so […] Read more