[NatureNS] Re: Mayflowers open/Insect

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Index of Subjects

! Despite such predation, Andrena bees and bee flies have existed to
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Crab spiders do not spin webs but rather ambush their victims. The one I sp=
eak of is the Goldenrod Crab Spider which can change its colour from yellow=
 to white to pale green depending on the colour of the flower.  Others such=
 as the Northern Crab Spider can do the colour trick too.

Angus


________________________________
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> on beha=
lf of chris kennedy <cjkennedy66@gmail.com>
Sent: April 26, 2017 10:27 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Re: Mayflowers open/Insect

Crab spiders as in yellow-orb spiders? -->MailScanner has detected a possib=
le fraud attempt from "en.wikipedia.org" claiming to be  https://en.wikiped=
ia.org/wiki/Argiope_aurantia<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argiope_aurantia=
>
[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Corn_Spider.jpg/=
220px-Corn_Spider.jpg]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argiope_aurantia>

Argiope aurantia - Wikipedia<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argiope_aurantia=
>
en.wikipedia.org
The spider species Argiope aurantia is commonly known as the yellow garden =
spider, black and yellow garden spider, golden garden spider, writing spide=
r, corn spider ...


Or a species from the Family Thomisidae --> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T=
homisidae
[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Ozyptila_pratico=
la_-_front_%28aka%29.jpg/220px-Ozyptila_praticola_-_front_%28aka%29.jpg]<ht=
tps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomisidae>

Thomisidae - Wikipedia<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomisidae>
en.wikipedia.org
The Thomisidae are a family of spiders, including about 175 genera and over=
 2,100 species. The common name crab spider is often applied to species in =
this family, but ...



-Chris Kennedy in Dartmouth




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

Chris' link does answer some of the questions re B. major. In the Wiki arti=
cle it also mentions they are great pollinators but I do not agree complete=
ly with that assumption. This particular species has one of the longest pro=
boscis (tongue), (size for size) in the avian world. This allows it to slur=
p nectar without actually landing on the flower (e.g. coltsfoot in the spri=
ng). This would seem to be a defense mechanism against crab spiders (also y=
ellow) 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 t=
hen coat the egg which adds weight to it and probably tends to also camoufl=
age 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! D=
espite such predation, Andrena bees and bee flies have existed together for=
 millennia.

Angus


________________________________
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca<mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> <=
naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca<mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>> on beh=
alf of chris kennedy <cjkennedy66@gmail.com<mailto:cjkennedy66@gmail.com>>
Sent: April 25, 2017 10:30 AM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Re: Mayflowers open/Insect

They parasitize the bees. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombylius_major
[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Grosser_Wollschw=
eber_Bombylius_major.jpg/220px-Grosser_Wollschweber_Bombylius_major.jpg]<ht=
tps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombylius_major>

Bombylius major - Wikipedia<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombylius_major>
en.wikipedia.org<http://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<mailto:=
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<mailto: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 A=
ndrena bees.

Angus


________________________________
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca<mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> <=
naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca<mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>> on beh=
alf of James Hirtle <jrhbirder@hotmail.com<mailto: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 l=
ike a bee, but when feeding more like a hummingbird moth.  It is tinier tho=
ugh.  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 w=
ould like to see the photo and can give me a positive ID it would be apprec=
iated.


James R. Hirtle

LaHave




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<p>Crab spiders do not spin webs but rather ambush their victims. The one I=
 speak of is the Goldenrod Crab Spider which can change its colour from