bee 04487d04, f, back, south africa

Serapista species , Unknown Pillow Bee, collected in South Africa by Laurence PackerThe zebra-like markings on this bee are diagnostic, the white stripes are formed from blade like brilliant white hairs that are particularly beautiful when viewed under high magnification. This genus forms a small group of four species found only in Africa. They form their nests from loose, fluffy masses of plant fibers and sometimes animal hairs which they attach to plant stems. The whole structure appears vaguely like a cotton boll. The brood cells are made inside this ball of fluff and the larvae develop as if inside a pillow. In the national museum of Kenya, there is a nest of one of these bees from which an entire brood emerged. The poor mother 's entire clutch of sons and daughters was added to the museum collection. Photography Information: Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200. USGSBIML Photoshopping Technique: Note that we now have added using the burn tool at 50% opacity set to shadows to clean up the halos that bleed into the black background from "hot" color sections of the picture.