Bees and buzzy insects

As I wiped the counter clean of drips from the breakfast dishes, I spied, through the kitchen window, a bumblebee buzzing the pink mimosa blossom. Then a butterfly at work on another. Yes, today was the day to learn more about what was buzzing around in our backyard. Before we went out, we peeked through the window at the sunflowers. We didn’t see any bees on the flowers. But, all we had to do was step outside…

Right at the top of the back door frame we’ve been watching a paper wasp for weeks. The wasp has been making a nest (which we considered knocking down several times simply because this is right where everyone goes in and out and right next to the family table). It’s been a first hand look at what we learned is the metamorphosis of the wasp.

Next, right ON the door handle, a praying mantis. We weren’t even outside yet!

Also, some type of interesting moth on the outside of the door. Must investigate that further.

Stepping out further into the backyard, we saw honeybees on sunflowers…bees rolling in pollen in the althea bush.

A new sunflower was blooming!

A bumblebee buzzed an althea too.

We turned around and saw a honeybee finding the pollen in the purple morning glory.

We almost didn‘t notice this little guy. Can you spot him too?

Then we were pushed inside (running!) when we saw a yellow jacket, remembering that there was a nest in the ground in the same spot last summer.

Safely inside we talked about the industry of the bees, the hive. We learned from an insect picture book about the cycle of metamorphosis. Each child picked a type of buzzing, stinging insect:

Honeybee: Youngest girl was quite taken with the ‘baskets’ for carrying pollen on the honeybee’s legs. She made sure to draw them.

Yellow jacket: Middle girl and I remembered the mean sting of the yellow jacket. As did Eldest boy who bore the brunt of a swarm of angry ones when he and his Dad were mowing the lawn last summer.

Carpenter bee: Eldest girl remembers seeing carpenter bees (similar looking to bumblebees ) at Mama Ann’s. Their buzz is so loud!

Paper wasp: Eldest boy was glad we didn’t knock down the paper wasp nest. Yes, indeed, the nest in our door is a globular shape with a single, thin hanger.

We talked about how we have had, on occasion, the opportunity to study an abandoned hornet’s nest. My uncle brought one to us last summer when he cut down a limb. Fascinating piece of nature! I also thought it interesting that ants and honeybees are classified together. Being industrious builders and workers.

…and it was eleven o’clock…which was time for a little something… ~Pooh

Then, of course we ended our study with a snack of honey. Talking of the tupelo plant we saw up at my Daddy’s house. Tupelo honey being what we use to make our homemade bread and top off our toast.

Maybe we’ll venture out in the backyard in the morning more often! Thanks to Handbook of Nature Study for the inspiration from the July newsletter.

Pssst. We went out the next morning and guess what we saw?