Who is This Busy Bee in My Backyard?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a series of observations and humorous exchanges regarding a bee spotted in a backyard, with participants sharing their thoughts on the bee's size, species, and related experiences with nature. The scope includes casual observations, personal anecdotes, and light-hearted commentary on the photographs shared.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares photographs of a bee, prompting others to comment on its appearance.
  • Some participants suggest the bee might be a "triffid," while others humorously dispute this by noting the absence of harmful behavior.
  • There are claims about the bee's size, with one participant estimating it to be 1.5 - 2 cm long, comparing it to the size of a thumb.
  • Another participant humorously suggests the bee could be a Soviet spy plane, adding a playful tone to the discussion.
  • Several participants share personal experiences with bees and flowers, discussing their enjoyment of nature and photography.
  • One participant mentions a fascination with clouds and sunsets, linking it to their observations of bees and flowers.
  • There are references to other insects, such as a hummingbird moth, with participants sharing additional photographs and experiences.
  • Some participants express admiration for the photography skills displayed in the shared images.
  • A participant discusses their past experiences with gardening and the challenges of identifying flowers planted from random seeds.
  • Another participant recounts a humorous incident involving their family’s reaction to their enthusiasm for photographing the bee.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the bee is large, possibly a bumblebee, but there are playful disagreements regarding its identity and nature. The discussion remains light-hearted and exploratory without reaching a consensus on specific claims.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on personal observations and humor, and there are varying interpretations of the bee's identity and behavior. The discussion includes anecdotal evidence and subjective experiences that may not be universally applicable.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in casual nature observations, gardening, and photography may find the exchanges and shared experiences engaging.

Integral
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Saw this guy buzzing around the back yard, thought I'd share him with you.
http://home.comcast.net/~Integral50/scenery/bee.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~Integral50/scenery/bee2.JPG
 
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I think its a triffid photo
 
wolram said:
I think its a triffid photo
I don't see it spitting poison... and killing.
 
once, i saw a bee eat a hamburger. didn't know bees were carnivores.
 
I need some perspective. Is that a big bee or a small flower?
 
Can't you tell by the Volkswagen parked inside the flower?
 
In that case, maybe it's a Soviet spy plane disguised as a bee. :rolleyes:
Be careful, Integral. They may have discovered your underground lair.
 
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That was a big bee, or actually a Bumble Bee. I guess it to be about 1.5 - 2 cm long. Like the end of your thumb.
 
Integral said:
That was a big bee, or actually a Bumble Bee. I guess it to be about 1.5 - 2 cm long. Like the end of your thumb.

Thats a big bee, more the size of a hornet.

I meant to post that's a terrific photo, don't know where triffid came from.
 
  • #11
"Say, was you ever bit by a dead bee?"

-Eddie The Rummy
To Have and Have Not
 
  • #12
  • #13
wolram said:
Thats a blimp made to look like a bee
A spy blimp?
 
  • #14
Jelfish said:
Can't you tell by the Volkswagen parked inside the flower?

Nicely done.

Integral, your camera does a really beautiful job at creating figure/ground focal contrast.
 
  • #15
Well, since you insisted...


http://img321.echo.cx/img321/4392/pf6do.jpg
 
  • #16
Nice gladioli there too! :biggrin: Beautiful pictures. :approve:
 
  • #17
That is a big bee!
 
  • #18
Moonbear said:
Nice gladioli there too! :biggrin: Beautiful pictures. :approve:
I was thinking the same thing.

I took a picture of a bumblebee recently on some vetch. Really pretty.

When the mums flower, we have lots to bees and I like to sit for a while and watch them. When I was a teenager, I used to watch bees in flowering tree in the backyard. The tree had very beautiful pink flowers, which really looked nice against a deep blue sky or with white puffy clouds.

Which reminds me, I used to lie in the backyard, while wearing dark (sun) glasses, and stare at the clouds passing over. It was especially cool to watch billowing clouds changing form rapidly. :smile:

I still occasionally watch the sky, and clouds, and I love to watch sunsets. :cool: :smile:
 
  • #19
mattmns said:
That is a big bee!

There was an even bigger one... We haven't seen Integral since...

http://img106.echo.cx/img106/5947/flyingbob22cw.jpg
 
  • #20
After seeing these pictures, I was out in the yard enjoying my own flower garden, and sat watching the big bumble bees climbing on the flowers. Too bad I can't remember what I planted to tell you what type of flowers they were (I planted a lot of random seeds I had lying around that never made it into gardens before and mixed them with a variety pack for naturalizing), but the bee was quite covered in pollen. :biggrin: (Oh, my lilies have bloomed too, at least two blooms have opened...good, I can enjoy them before I leave...usually everything in my garden decides to bloom while I'm at summer conferences and I leave when there are buds forming and return to find brown flowers on the ground...the lilies are wonderfully fragrant! I snipped off one blossom and put it in a small vase in my bedroom; very relaxing).
 
  • #21
Astronuc said:
Which reminds me, I used to lie in the backyard, while wearing dark (sun) glasses, and stare at the clouds passing over. It was especially cool to watch billowing clouds changing form rapidly. :smile:

I still occasionally watch the sky, and clouds, and I love to watch sunsets. :cool: :smile:
I have a fascination with clouds too. I especially enjoy the wonderful colors they take on around sunset and sunrise and the way the sunlight plays with them. They can show some very interesting contrast and texture. Some mornings the clouds roll in from the beach very quickly. I loved to watch them rush by, fading in and out. Ah, I need to start taking pictures again. :biggrin: Are there any other cloud lovers around here?
 
  • #22
Moonbear said:
I snipped off one blossom and put it in a small vase in my bedroom; very relaxing).
The very concept of you wanting something 'relaxing' in your bedroom astounds me. Does this mean that I've been assembling my arsenal for nothing? :frown:
 
  • #23
I love to watch nature - including clouds, during the day, at sunrise and at sunset. :smile:

I also look at flowers (and we have been planted several around the property) and watch the insects. Recently we planted some 'butterfly bushes' and a few days later, butterflies and moths are visiting frequently.

Here is a hummingbird moth which visited this morning. One pic as it comes into land, and one with its proboscis extended into the flower while it hovers. :smile: :cool:
 

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  • #24
Integral said:
Saw this guy buzzing around the back-yard, thought I'd share him with you.
And all you could come up with was a dumb BUMBLE-BEE!
 
  • #25
Astronuc said:
Here is a hummingbird moth which visited this morning. One pic as it comes into land, and one with its proboscis extended into the flower while it hovers. :smile: :cool:
Incredible pictures Astronuc.
 
  • #26
Thanks, Evo. :smile: The pics were taken with a Kodak Easyshare DX6490 set for action pics. I posted additional photos of the moth and a Swallowtail butterfly on E-S.

http://www.everything-science.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=82&topic=6249.0

and

http://www.everything-science.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=82&topic=6250.0

I'll probably need to buy some more space at PF. :biggrin:
 
  • #27
Talk about one upsmanship!


Nice shots Astronuc! I like that butterfly on the other forum especially well. :smile:
 
  • #28
Thanks, Integral. I got the inspiration from you. :smile:

I lucked out in getting the moth and butterfly. It's a matter of looking out the window and running like h . . . when I see something. It also helps to have lots of flowers nearby.
 
  • #29
Astronuc said:
Thanks, Integral. I got the inspiration from you. :smile:

I lucked out in getting the moth and butterfly. It's a matter of looking out the window and running like h . . . when I see something. It also helps to have lots of flowers nearby.
LOL! I know what you mean, I saw the bee, dropped everything and dashed into the house to get the camera. My wife and daughter then watched in puzzlement as I rolled around on the ground, looking for the picture. They still question my sanity :smile:
 
  • #30

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