Australian native Blue Banded Bee card - Amegilla asserta
Australian native insect
Reproduced from an original watercolour painting by Cheryl Hodges
Greeting card 10 x 15cm, blank inside with brown recycled envelope
Text on reverse of card reads:
Buzz pollination, also called sonication, is especially performed by bees in the Amegilla family (including blue banded bees). The bee clings to a flower and rapidly vibrates its flight muscles, producing a distinctive high-pitched buzz. The vibration causes the flower to release its pollen. Buzz pollination is crucial for plants that have evolved to release their pollen in this way, for example tomatoes, blueberries, and eggplants.
Although blue banded bees dart around very quickly, you may occasionally find them resting on a stem. If you look closely you might be able to tell if it’s male or female. Males have five blue stripes and females have four.