I Want to Help the Honey Bees
A carpenter bee has moved into my fence. Carpenter bees usually come in small numbers, like one or two. They resemble bumblebees, but a little shinier. They are an important pollinator of flat daisy-type flowers.
My bee is very good at disappearing. I just happened to spot her zoom into a hole in my fence a few days ago. Since then, nothing but sawdust. Yes, sawdust, every day a little more at the top of the hole. She is busy in there, building a home for her children.
No guy-bee in view. I know, because if she had a husband, he would be guarding the hole in the fence and come out charging every time I leaned my nosy face down to peek in. He would be scary, but mostly bluff, since the poor chap doesn't have a stinger. No, no guy-bee to help with the hive. I figure my bee is a struggling single mother.
But I have a bee. Cool.
(I am in Urbana, IL (USA), also on twitter/illinihoneybee)