The forests and mountains of Borneo are also home to some incredible bees…
The first day in the forests of the Danum Valley I spotted this amazing nest in the arms of a magnificent Koompassia tree (which is over 80 m tall!). These are Giant Asian Honeybees. They construct their combs in the open draped under the branches of these tall trees where they are out of reach of predators (like the Sun Bear, who has trouble climbing up the smooth bark)…
There were a lot stingless bees about too. They landed on us whenever we were sweaty (which was most of the time). Here they are peering out of the nest entrance…
There were many other bee species around. On a flowering liana in the shady understorey of the forest I saw this gorgeous Carpenter Bee visiting the flowers. The velvety blue sheen on its back almost glowed in the shadows! The Carpenter bees were slow and deliberate visitors to the flowers. Zipping around them much more madly were some Leaf-cutter bees, with luck I managed to snap a photo of one of them too…
Great photoes and post. Interesting as always! I didn’t know there are bees in green and blue colores.