Yellow loosestrife bees
The reserve is alive with insects as we start to move beyond the main breeding season for birds, the flowers are out in bloom and the temperatures are (generally) that little bit warmer.
Whilst exploring the reserve you will come across many species of dragonfly, damselfly, beetle and bee. These ones in particular pollinate and collect nectar and oil from the yellow loosestrife flower. There are several of these plants along the footpath to our Lyle hide, meaning that they are close enough for fantastic views (and photographic opportunities) of these rather cute, yellow loosestrife bee. This type of bee is one of many solitary bees found on the reserve (not a bumblebee), others include the leaf-cutter bee. The yellow loosestrife bees dig burrows in the ground and then using the oil from these flowers, create cells which they fill with pollen and nectar, lay an egg and then seal up with more oil so that the next generation is safe from flooding.
We think that this makes them very interesting as well as cute to look at! We hope you manage to spot them and enjoy atching them on the reserve as much as we do.
