Long-Horned Bee on 'Dragon's Blood' Sedum

Melissodes bimaculata on Sedum spurium var coccineum

Often 2 or 3 Long-Horned digger bees can be found inside a single squash blossom. You can see them from across the yard, their inky blackness in striking contrast with the yellow flowers. They move from male to female flowers, collecting pollen and then drinking nectar to their hearts' delight. When honeybees forage, they usually are either gathering pollen or getting nectar, not both. Honeybees also display "floral fidelity," but these bees move on to other flowers as morning - and the squash blossoms - draws to a close.