Odd bee behavior

[nancylebov]

Yesterday, I saw two huge bumblebees (maybe they were normal-sized, but I was nervous about them) chasing around a parking lot. I don't know if one was chasing the other or they took turns or they were doing the bumblebee version of hanging out. They stayed within a few inches of each other most of the time, and they were moving pretty fast.

Territorial behavior? Mating? Bees are weirder than I know?

Comments

[tamnonlinear.livejournal.com]

Territorial fights between carpenter bees, most likely.

[twistedchick]

Probably carpenter bees, or some of the larger independent varieties that live in other places than wood. They are territorial but not hostile to humans; I used to sit in the front yard with them swooping past me like small(ish) helicopters. We had one living in a hole in the brickwork by the front door a few years ago that we called our 'watchbee' -- if the political candidates were brave enough to stand there while it checked them out, we were willing to listen to the spiel.

[zenlizard]

Territorial/mating behavior.

I just got back from helping to run a Beltane event. I must say, even with it being Beltane and all, the carpenter bees that were mating literally in my face were annoying.