Tiny Native Bees ( Reed Bees - Exoneura spp)

These tiny native bees are only around 7mm long. They are one of the Exoneura spp which are known as Reed bees. Despite the fact that they are in the same family (Apidae) as the honey bee, these ones do not store honey. They nest within stems after hollowing out the soft pithy centre. They also use the stems to hibernate in over winter. The flower they are feeding from is known as Coast beard-heath, Leucopogon parviflorus.

The photos below were taken in my backyard with a Canon 7D and Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens.

_{( All photos, videos, and text on this blog are by @mostly.nature )}

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