Macro Photography Shows Long-Horned Bee Mating Behavior

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Macro photography captures the mating behavior of long-horned bees in Courtenay, British Columbia, on April 28.


Macro photographer Karla Thompson is participating in a conservation effort of multiple insect species.

Thompson hopes to travel the world and shoot the “coolest insects.”


This video shows a male bee stroking a female with his long antennae, it is the typical mating behavior of long-horned bees.


Long-horned Bees are genera in the tribe Eucerini (Apidae). They are named because of the large antennae present on males. There are over 30 genera in the tribe, including Melissodes or long-horned bees. They nest on the ground, have a fondness of sunflowers, and emerge in late summer. Credit: Karla Thompson via Storyful