20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Vampire Bee

There were many black/yellow bees buzzing around my favorite lavender plant in my garden. There was a very plump black/yellow bee that hovered toward the top of one of the lavender plant branches. I captured this close-up photo of the hovering bee facing in my direction. I later noticed that a close-up of the bee's facial expression (or what I believe to be an "expression") showed what appeared to look like vampire teeth blended with a batman-like vibe. It's rare to see the face of an insect, especially a unique face that reminds one of a vampire or batman. This was a special moment for me, and am grateful to have captured an image of this special, beautiful bee (imitating a vampire, or a bat)!

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: SAN FRANCISCO, California, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T5i
Copyright: © Donna Lau