Triepeolus

To be perfectly honest, I can't help but to think of this as a dead bee glued to a stalk from the mouth and sprayed with water. I've never seen a live bee sleeping without grasping the plant with it's legs. It just isn't exciting and I do apologize for being blunt, but that is my perception, visually. I'm not saying that that's what this is, but only what it looks like. It would be different if the legs were wrapped around the stalk. Sorry!

Joe

I can see how one might think that. I can assure you that this is a completely natural occurrence for this type of bee. Cuckoo bees do not use their legs, they use their mandibles to grip and lock onto a blade of grass, or some other plant when they "sleep". This image is really meant to capture and demonstrate the natural habit and activity (or non-activity) of this insect - not really meant to be the typical "beautiful" shot. And agreed, it looks quite strange when coming across these in the natural environment - almost comical.
Oh, and the dew is quite real, too (hot humid days and cool nights)
Cheers

I didn't mean to imply it was what I said it looked like. It's just that most people (myself included) are ignorant of this behavior and wouldn't know it was real. It's an interesting behavior that is well illustrated in your photo and elsewhere, but many wouldn't realize that, and thus, would presume it was not a natural habit.

Joe

The drop details are wonderful. It's got quite a grip on the perch - I've seen this sort of pose before.

Hi

I like it - I don't think its one of your best. But then your best is a very high standard and one has one own opinions and likes as to what really hit the highs! But it is still a very fine shot

Regarding the behaviour - I have seen this a lot of times with many different types of solitary bees; I have also seen it with many insects when infected by a fungus; which seems to make them climb to a high point and cling in with mouth parts. So for me this seems very natural and quite common; although I can understand Joe's remark; but that could be said about a lot of images from birding shots to macro's

And besides - I like the shot


All the best
Matthew