Common Carder Bee

This raggedy looking bee has seen better days. As well as its worn wings, it’s very faded. In its prime it would be more ginger in colour.

Common carder bees, at least the workers and this year’s queen, die in Autumn so this little fella isn’t long for this world. At least he’s enjoying his last moments on a nectar-rich echinacea flower.

Apparently the several varieties of carder bee are so called because of how they gather nesting material - like carding the hairs off lambs ear leaves.

Like all bees, these bumblebees are a welcome sight on the plot. Though they’re more interested in flowers than veg. And I learned something today, no male bee stings! Well, every day’s a school day!