Cuckoo bee, Nomada lineola

When I took this shot, I was convinced that I was being brave getting close to a wasp, albeit a bit smaller than my usual prey. It turns out that it was a cuckoo bee, one of a few bees that look like wasps. Certainly had me fooled.

Cuckoo bees do not collect pollen and so have no pockets or hairs on their rear legs for collecting pollen. They hang around other bee species nests and steal their honey - and I thought I was being brave!

I have run out of difference ideas for now, but will re-visit the series as I think of more.

Dave