[NatureNS] Re: Mayflowers open/Insect

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From: chris kennedy <cjkennedy66@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2017 21:57:36 -0300
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Crab spiders as in yellow-orb spiders? --> https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Argiope_aurantia <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argiope_aurantia>

Or a species from the Family Thomisidae -->
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomisidae


-Chris Kennedy in Dartmouth




On Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 7:06 PM, Angus MacLean <Cold_Mac@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Chris' link does answer some of the questions re B. major. In the Wiki
> article it also mentions they are great pollinators but I do not agree
> completely with that assumption. This particular species has one of the
> longest proboscis (tongue), (size for size) in the avian world. This allows
> it to slurp nectar without actually landing on the flower (e.g. coltsfoot
> in the spring). This would seem to be a defense mechanism against crab
> spiders (also yellow) which can be very common in the spring and are a
> deadly predator.
>
> Before they flick their egg towards the mouth of the bee nest, they
> collect dust or sand at the tip of their abdomen (where their ovipositor
> is) and then coat the egg which adds weight to it and probably tends to
> also camouflage the egg.
>
> Researchers claim that when the egg does not land far enough into the
> nest, the larva will attach itself to the bee and get a free ride to the
> food! Despite such predation, Andrena bees and bee flies have existed
> together for millennia.
>
> Angus
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> on
> behalf of chris kennedy <cjkennedy66@gmail.com>
> *Sent:* April 25, 2017 10:30 AM
> *To:* naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> *Subject:* Re: [NatureNS] Re: Mayflowers open/Insect
>
> They parasitize the bees. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombylius_major
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombylius_major>
> Bombylius major - Wikipedia
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombylius_major>
> en.wikipedia.org
> The Large Bee-fly, Bombylius major, is a bee mimic. The eggs are flicked
> by the adult female toward the entrance of the underground nests of
> solitary bees and wasps.
>
>
> On Tue, Apr 25, 2017 at 9:00 AM, Randy Lauff <randy.lauff@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> What happens when the eggs hatch, Angus? Do the maggots parasitize the
>> bees, or are they nest parasites...something else?
>>
>> Randy
>>
>> _________________________________
>> RF Lauff
>> Way in the boonies of
>> Antigonish County, NS.
>>
>> On 24 April 2017 at 20:11, Angus MacLean <Cold_Mac@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> As Phil states, all the marks suggest a Bee Fly, B. major. Usually out
>>> very early. At this time of year it lays its eggs at the entrance to nests
>>> of Andrena bees.
>>>
>>> Angus
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>> *From:* naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
>>> on behalf of James Hirtle <jrhbirder@hotmail.com>
>>> *Sent:* April 24, 2017 5:03 PM
>>> *To:* Naturens Naturens
>>> *Subject:* [NatureNS] Mayflowers open/Insect
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi all:
>>>
>>>
>>> I photographed some mayflowers fully open today at New Cumberland.  Had
>>> my first wood tick crawling on my ear also.  It's in two pieces now.
>>>
>>>
>>> I had an interesting insect that was feeding at the mayflowers.  It
>>> looks like a bee, but when feeding more like a hummingbird moth.  It is
>>> tinier though.  The purtubance that goes into the flower is long and
>>> pointy.  I have a good picture of this.  I believe it might be a sweat bee,
>>> but if anyone would like to see the photo and can give me a positive ID it
>>> would be appreciated.
>>>
>>>
>>> James R. Hirtle
>>>
>>> LaHave
>>>
>>
>>
>

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<div dir=3D"ltr">Crab spiders as in yellow-orb spiders? --&gt;<a href=3D"ht=
tps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argiope_aurantia" target=3D"_blank"><font color=
=3D"red"><b>MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "en.wiki=
pedia.org" claiming to be</b></font> =C2=A0https://en.wikipedia.org/<wbr>wi=
ki/Argiope_aurantia</a><div><br></div><div>Or a species from the Family Tho=
misidae --&gt;=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomisidae">ht=
tps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomisidae</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></d=
iv><div>-Chris Kennedy in Dartmouth</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div=
><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Wed=
, Apr 26, 2017 at 7:06 PM, Angus MacLean <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"m=
ailto:Cold_Mac@hotmail.com" target=3D"_blank">Cold_Mac@hotmail.com</a>&gt;<=
/span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8=
ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">




<div dir=3D"ltr">
<div id=3D"m_-8635888234620121164m_1084627896460473076divtagdefaultwrapper"=
 style=3D"font-size:12pt;color:#000000;font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,=
sans-serif" dir=3D"ltr">
<p>Chris&#39; link does answer some of the questions re B. major. In the Wi=
ki article it also mentions they are great pollinators but I do not agree c=
ompletely with that assumption. This particular species has one of the long=
est proboscis (tongue), (size for size)
 in the avian world. This allows it to slurp nectar without actually landin=
g on the flower (e.g. coltsfoot in the spring). This would seem to be a def=
ense mechanism against crab spiders (also yellow) which can be very common =
in the spring and are a deadly predator.</p>
<p>Before they flick their egg towards the mouth of the bee nest, they coll=
ect dust or sand at the tip of their abdomen (where their ovipositor is) an=
d then coat the egg which adds weight to it and probably tends to also camo=
uflage the egg.
<br>
</p>
<p>Researchers claim that when the egg does not land far enough into the ne=
st, the larva will attach itself to the bee and get a free ride to the food=
! Despite such predation, Andrena bees and bee flies have existed to