The Bee and the Ladybug

Today, May 20, is International Bee Day!

In honor of bees everywhere, I present to you an image of The Bee and the Ladybug.

As of February, 2021, Ellison Orcutt, of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, has a “Bees of Virginia” list. It is a provisional list. He writes,

“This list contains the 477 species of bees (Apoidea) within six families that have been documented in Virginia.”

Four hundred and seventy-seven different species! Where to begin.

My guess is that this particular bee is a carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica. I’ll call it “Superstar.” You see it here taking a break from boring into, and systematically destroying, the fence posts around my garden.

Fence post destruction is hard work, and so the bee is taking time off to gather pollen and enjoy some kale flowers, which I let go to seed each year. This seed saving habit has three beneficial outcomes: (1) it provides pollen for the bees, (2) it gives the kale its chance to have fun, and (3) it restocks my kale seed bank for next year. That’s a win, win, win.

And now don’t let the diminutive size of the shiny red ladybug fool you. She is ferociously feasting on aphids, which seem to be under the illusion that they were invited to chew on my teenage kale plants. Way to go, Ladybug! Another win.

I presume the bee is kibitzing with the ladybug, and perhaps backseat driving on how to best prepare aphids for brunch. The ladybug, in turn, has probably told it to buzz off.

Happy Bee Day, y'all!