Meet Australia's Most Surreal Bee
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
Image: Pexels
The Blue-banded bee is a striking native Australian bee known for iridescent blue bands on its black abdomen
Image: Pexels
These bees are important buzz pollinators, contributing to agriculture and the health of native ecosystems
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They are also recognised for their distinctive darting and hovering flight pattern
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For some reason, the bee seems to have a preference for blue flowers, experts say
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The most striking feature of the bee is its pale opalescent blue stripes on its black abdomen
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They are relatively small, typically ranging from 10-12 mm in length, with dense hairs covering most of their body, including their legs
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Blue-banded bees are "buzz pollinators", meaning they vibrate their bodies while clinging to flowers to release pollen
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They are solitary bees, with each female building her own nest
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