16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Red-eyed Digger Bee "bubbling" to concentrate nectar

This native digger bee (Centris rhodopus) was found in coastal chaparral near San Diego, California. She was perched on a dried plant, "bubbling" a small drop of regurgitated nectar to concentrate it through evaporation before bringing it back to her nest to feed her offspring.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2017
Date Uploaded: 11.2018
Photo Location: San Diego, California, United States of America
Camera: TG-3
Copyright: © Tom Barnes