Observations by amandabarth82

This black and red bee (Sphecodes?) was rapidly poking around nest entrances for my resident Halictus rubicundus bees. I saw the same species in this area last year. Observation edited with better quality images a few hours later.

I witnessed an interesting interaction: this Halictus rubicundus was trying repeatedly to shake off this fly, who tailed her relentlessly and landed two inches away from her every time she landed. My guess is a parasitoid waiting for directions to a nest entrance? I did not get better photos of the fly in question.