Bee - Genus Diadasia
Subgenus Coquillettapis
Larvae - Genus Meloe
I got one shot of this Digger Bee at Strawberry Reservoir and when I uploaded the photo to my computer
I was really surprised. It has Oil Beetle larvae hitching a ride on it. Too bad I couldn't have gotten more
photos. According to Martin Hauser on Bugguide, these beetles "are first hitchhikers (to get to the nest)
and then parasites (on the bee larvae)". Amazing! You can read more about them here on Bugguide.
© Carol Davis, 7-24-2011
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