Observaciones de darlingtonpp

This colony of Drury's Long-horned Bee appears to be in decline. Saw more of the parasitic Goldenrod Longhorn-Cuckoo Bees than the host. There are many less burrows than in previous years. May not only be parasitized by Goldenrod Longhorn-Cuckoo Bee (Triepeolus pectoralis), but also a Blood Bee, possibly Davis's Cuckoo Sweat Bee (Sphecodes davisii), observed flying around the burrows of the colony as well. Potter Wasps also observed in the area.

A mating pair of Blood Bees along the path below the Viewing Platform in the area of the Digger Bee colony (Melissodes). Note the male's left front wing appears open on the blade of grass. Both of the female's wings are open and held upright. Male appears very hairy.

While the end of the abdomen is not clearly visible in either the female or the male, by range maps on iNaturalist, I think this likely either Buttercup Blood Bee (Sphecodes ranunculi) or more probably Davis's Cuckoo Sweat Bee (Sphecodes davisii), because the cuckoo bee, S. davisii, may be laying eggs in the pollen stores of Melissodes? All the other iNat suggestions are European, except for the Cyclops Blood Bee (Sphecodes heraclei), which has a red pronotum.