iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Bee season has begun! Andrena/mining bees are cold hardy and some of the first bees out in spring alongside Bumble queens & mason bees #bcnativebees #pollinatorgarden #miningbee #nanaimo #vancouverisland

A fuzzy golden brown mining bee is climbing over the edge of a white pear blossom; her front feet are hooked over the top edge and she’s stepping up with her back legs, looking like a human trying to scale a fence

030

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

CONVERGENT: exhibition w/ Nanaimo artists Jesse Gray, Anne Ramsden & Yvonne Vander kooi Re: local ecology & our relations w/ the landscape Feb 24-Apr 2 opening Fri Feb 27 4-7pm I will show 2 new bodies of work re: the Megachile/leaf-cutter bees in my yard #nanaimo #nativebeeart #nativebees

Poster for an Exhibition at Vancouver Island University titled Convergent. Features 3 horizontal detail images of the artwork - the first with penciled Garry Oak leaves overlaying a map, the second a photo of a leaf cutter bee in the process of cutting out a leaf, and the last a a warm-toned oil painting with rocks and plants.

Text details: 900 Fifth Street, Entrance 5D, Tue-Fri 10am-4pm, Show dates 02.24-04.02 Opening Reception 02.27 4-7pm

Vancouver Island University & The View Gallery Present CONVERGENT
art by Anne Ramsden, Jesse Gray, & Yvonne Vander Koii

020

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Hey #Nanaimo! We need volunteers for this 1st phase of a larger project I’m developing “The South End Pollinator Patchway”- creating native plant gardens in my neighbours’ front yards for free. Building community & strengthening the commons & creating habitat in our low-income urban neighbourhood.

Poster calling for volunteers on Oct 28 & Nov 1 to help build a pollinator pathway on Irwin street. Bordered by illustrations of purple asters & bleeding hearts, & 2 native bees flying around.

051

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

We did a residency on Saltspring in June. There was a big area full of Andrena nests, & tons of Nomada. I compiled my observations into these info sheets to share with the residency. #dailybee #dailyisastateofmindwhenyoureaudhd #bcnativebees #saltspringisland #hemlockmicroresidency

A combination of photographs & handwritten text on a grey background. Photos are all of red & yellow Nomad bees, text describes my observations & gives basic info on this type of bee.

030

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

From a few weeks ago Melissodes female trying to balance those pollen thighs atop a wee aster flower #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #vancouverisland #nanaimo #nativeplants #pollinators

A long horned bee with back legs packed with pollen is perched precariously on the top of a purple aster flower. She has her wings up for balance and a leg in the air

070

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Bee season is waning Leafcutter lady/ Megachile fidelis on Grindelia doing the patented BBL (bee butt lift) She’s putting that wasp waist to good use #dailybee #bcnativebees #leafcutterbees #nativebees #nanaimo #vancouverisland #pollinators

A bee is in the centre of a bright yellow gumweed flower, collecting pollen. Her face is in shadow but her abdomen is pointed almost 90 degrees up from the rest of her body, with stripes of pale hair catching the sunlight

071

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Bombus butt (Bombutt? Bumblebum?) Another queenie clambering awkwardly through the sunflowers, breaking petals & bending leaves as she goes #dailybee #bcnativebees #bumblebee #nativebees

A large bumblebee seen from behind, climbing over several long leaves - her back end is striped in black, white, & rust red, & 3 of her legs are awkwardly splayed out to support her

010

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Leap into the void These huge queens have wings but you wouldn’t know it from watching them climb thru the sunflowers & fling themselves from plant to plant #dailybee #bcnativebees #bombus #nativebees #vancouverisland #nanaimo

A black bumblebee with cream & deep orange stripes is sideways in midair between two flowers, her back legs starfished out behind her

020

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

2 different species of bumble queens out & about - they are so clumsy! They’re freaking huge & flowers just collapse under them, but they also just can’t seem to travel or land without a lot of scrabbling & clambering & clinging to petals #dailybee #bcnativebees #bumblebees

A black, blonde & rust red bumble bee is crawling through a sunflower, using the petals like a climbing structure

020

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Bombus vancouverensis vancouverensis aka Vancouver Island Bumblebee Another massive, clumsy bumble queen, w/ a stunning colour palette & patterns #dailybee #bcnativebees #bumblebees #vancouverisland #nanaimo #pollinators

A round ball of a bumble bee sits upside down at the centre of a many-petaled yellow calendula. The bee is a striking combination of white, black, & rust red

030

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Have ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ in my head all the time when going through bee pics It’s always true tho, just look at her & she might be one minute old, I wouldn’t know #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #pollinators #nanaimo #vancouverisland #sweatbee

Most of the image is taken up by a golden yellow calendula blossom lit up by the midday sun, and in the centre of the flower is a shimmery metallic emerald green bee.

050

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

The compelling geometry of legs & petals & shadows & wings & antennae Green metallic sweat bee female on Douglas aster/Agapostemon on Symphyotrichum subspicatum #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #pnwnativeplants #nativeplants #pollinators #pollinatorgarden

A shimmering metallic emerald green bee is seen from above as she perches in the orange centre of a light purple aster blossom. She has her legs splayed out to the sides for balance, her wings are up & her body is bent at the waist & the neck, & her shadow is being cast on the petals beside her. These elements together make a pleasing composition.

0110

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Emphasizing the size dif btwn leaf cutter female & green sweat bee male In last post the little guy just flies straight into the huge lady, full speed bonk Those dudes are fearless & relentless patrolling ‘their’ flowers #bcnativebees #dailybee #nativebees #pollinators #nanaimo #beesbehavingbadly

A large dark bee is looking unconcerned while foraging in an orange calendula blossom, meanwhile a striped bee a third her size is just about to pounce on her from above

030

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

Green metallic sweat bee males’ main job seems to be annoying other bees into leaving ‘their’ territory Poor leafcutter lady never gets a moment’s peace #beesbehavingbadly #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #pollinatorgarden #urbangardening #vancouverisland

030

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

These ladies never seem to catch a break Female Leafcutter ambushed by male Leafcutter hoping to create some baby Leafcutters Megachile on Helianthus maximilliani #dailybee #bcnativebees #pollinators #nativebees #leafcutterbees #nanaimo #urbangardening

060

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Bee & my shadow Agapostemon/metallic green sweat bee lady on Maximillian sunflower preening in the midday sun #dailybee #bcnativebees #pollinatorgarden #urbangarden #beegarden #nativebees #nativeplants

At the bottom of a golden yellow composite flower, an emerald green metallic bee is lit from behind, & casting a distinct shadow of herself on the petals

090

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Some of these leaf cutter ladies are real honkin chonkers Giant Megachile on average sized Douglas aster #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #nativeplants #pnwnativeplants

A large black bee trimmed with blonde fur is perched on a light purple aster flower. She is extremely round, and is covering up most of the blossom with her body. She’s also carrying a load of orange pollen in the hairs under her abdomen.

1141

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Sometimes finding new bee pics to post is beyond my abilities for the day, so how about this blue-eyed gem again Melissodes/long-horned lady, summer 2024 #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #nanaimo

We are right up inside a bright golden flower, and in the middle is a bee looking straight at us with one big spotted blue eye. She is peeking at us from over the edge of a flower petal, and has her front foot propped up on the edge.

050

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Megachile female from 2023 before I had a camera - iPhone macro lens is pretty good actually Only downside is having to stick my phone a cm from their face, only practical on cold mornings before they’re able to escape me Leaf cutter in Maximillian sunflower #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees

Super close up of a leaf cutter bee inside a sunflower blossom. She has a dark body with silvery-blonde hairs, a striped abdomen with orange pollen-carrying hairs on its underside, and a large glossy black eye.

050

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Bees are just so flipping cute it’s hard for me to deal sometimes Leafcutter male on Aster/Megachile on Symphyotrichum subspicatum, 2024 #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #nativeplants #megachile #vancouverisland #nanaimo

An extremely cute grey & black bee with huge spotted grey-green eyes is perched in the centre on top of a purple and orange aster flower.

180

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

I think about what it might be like to operate at this speed & live for only a couple weeks Their world is queererer than we can suppose, etc Melissodes/long-horned bee lady on Grindelia #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #nativepollinators #nativeplants #grindelia #melissodes #vancouverisland

150

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

I’m mesmerized by how this starfish has overlapped her wings across her back; venation creating sharp, clear linear patterns that then fade into raggedness at the ends Yellow-faced bumblebee/Bombus vosnesenskii on perennial/Maximillian sunflower #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #pollinators

A black & white/pale yellow bumblebee is hanging off the inside of a bright yellow flower while it drinks nectar. Its 4 back legs are spread out in all directions & bracing against the petals. Her wings have come together into an oval in the middle of her back, highlighting the linework patterns of veins. The back end of the oval is ragged & torn & barely visible, indicating that the bee is getting on in bee years.

040

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

Megachile fidelis, pretty sure All the leaf cutters are such a joy to look at Female, on Grindelia/gumweed July 2025 #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #nativeplants #grindelia #nativebeesnothoneybees #vancouverisland #nanaimo

In the flat bottom of a yellow composite flower, a dark bee with big black eyes and light stripes on her abdomen is foraging with her wings and back end in the air.

080

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

These green metallic sweat bee dudes are so tenacious Especially in late afternoon, the ladies can’t spend 5 second foraging without some dingdong appearing out of nowhere (shazam!) Agapostemon on Grindelia #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #nativeplants #bcnativeplants #vancouverisland

A bright metallic emerald green bee with orange pollen on her legs is foraging in a yellow composite flower. Above her, in silhouette, a male of her species is diving through the air straight towards her

090

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

I save pics like this in an album called ‘starfish’ Lady long-horned bee/Melissodes in Grindelia/gumweed, 2024 #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #nativeplants #grindelia #melissodes #longhornedbee #vancouverisland

A brownish bee is inside a bright yellow flower; she has her back to us, looking almost like she’s standing up on her back legs, and she has her front 4 legs extended up in the air

080

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

Sharp-tailed bee/Coelioxys She’s a kleptoparasite on leaf-cutter bees & uses that tail to punch a hole in the leaf-lined egg cell & lay her own egg inside Then her bebe kills any other eggs/larvae & gobbles up all the pollen stores #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #grindelia #nativeplants

A large grey & black bee is launching herself into the air from a yellow composite flower. She has an extremely long, tapered abdomen that ends in a wicked-looking point

091

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

Bombus vancouverensis vancouverensis (Vancouver Island Bumblebee) doing some kind of aster worship #bcnativebees #dailybee #bombus #bumblebee #nativeplants #nativebees

In the middle of a light purple aster flower, a blonde, black, & red bumblebee has its back to us and is sticking its two middle legs straight up in the air like it is about to ‘we’re not worthy’ the plant

1315

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Don’t often get to see these ladies w/ out pollen in their pollen pants- they really do look like fun fur leg warmers worn to a rave in 2002 Melissodes/ long-horned bee in Grindelia #dailybee #bcnativebees #grindelia #nativebees #nativeplants #nativebeesnothoneybeez

A dark brown bee with white stripes on her abdomen is foraging in the bottom of a yellow composite flower, legs splayed to the side for purchase. Her two back legs are covered in long, blonde, silky looking fur

060

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

I feel like half my photos are bees peeking out over the top of flowers, judging me for being a creep Long-horned bee/Melissodes lady on Grindelia #dailybee #bcnativebees #melissodes #longhornedbee #grindelia #nativeplants #pollinators #nativebees #nativebeesnothoneybees

A blonde & brown fluffy bee is half hidden in a yellow flower- she appears to be peeking at the camera over the edge of a petal with one large blue & grey spotted eye.

0123

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Late summer is Megachile time My fave charismatic chunky-fauna are these leafcutters #dailybee #bcnativebees #megachile #leafcutterbees #douglasaster

A light purple aster blossom is in the foreground; just about to pass behind it is a stocky dark bee with fluffy white body fur and orange pollen carrying hairs on her underbelly. She appears to be looking right at the camera with a large matte black eye

020

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Found a one-winged sweat bee on the sidewalk in the cold this afternoon He was flipping & flopping in circles & crawled right up onto my hand when I put it down beside him - he hung out & groomed his tiny antennae Filled a container w/ flowers which he drank from, then put it all outside

A tiny dark bee with big matte black eyes is perched on my grubby white lady gardener finger

The same tiny bee on my finger seen from behind, where it’s obvious he is missing both of his left wings & some of his right one as well

The same little bee perched on the edge of a yellow flower petal, his upper body covered in pollen from his time drinking nectar

I tried to make a little food & rest area for him- he’s perched on the edge of a yarrow flower amongst a forest of other flowers & leaves

060

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

Had this lady ID’d as Colletes on iNat- really grateful to all the bee people there who are so generous with their time & knowledge I’m still but a baby of a bee person, & excited as haven’t captured very many Colletes pics this year Cellophane bee on yarrow/Achillea #dailybee #bcnativebees

A lightly fuzzy brownish bee with a black & white striped abdomen & pollen on her legs is perched on top cluster of white aster blossoms in the warm light of the late afternoon

030

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Wrong way, buddy Green metallic sweat bee males are totally focused on patrol & ambush, they’re not big on finesse Agapostemon boyo (top, facing camera), & lady (bottom, facing the opposite way) He was very persistent & did succeed in knocking her off in the next round #dailybee #bcnativebees

Altercation between two green bees atop a cluster of tiny white yarrow blossoms. The darker female bee is foraging with very full pollen pants, & the lighter male has just ambushed her from above. He may have miscalculated, as he has landed on her top-to-tail

030

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Triple bee encounter Lady long-horned w/ massive pollen leggings & male green metallic sweat bee stirring shit up as usual Female leafcutter w/ orange pollen belly getting out of this situation Megachile, Melissodes, & Agapostemon on Grindelia #dailybee #bcnativebees #nativebees #grindelia

Wide shot of a yellow composite flower & 3 bees. Inside the flower one bee with poofy pollen legs is being antagonized by a green, yellow & black bee, while a dark leafcutter bee is flying across the foreground

030

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

I’m spoiled for choice in re: wondrous creature photos right now Leafcutter (Megachile) carries pollen on her underbelly, packing it between specialized hairs for transport Each egg she lays gets a little bundle of pollen to eat On native aster #dailybee #bcnativebees #megachile #Leafcutter

A very striking black and golden-furred bee with huge spotted grey eyes is foraging on a light purple aster flower

030

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Dianthidium, or pebble bee- hoping it’s D. subparvum, a gumweed/Grindelia specialist & an imperiled species Plant more native plants! So many organisms rely on a narrow range of local plants for food, shelter, & reproduction #dailybee #bcnativebees #dianthidium #grindelia #nativeplants

In the bottom of a bright yellow composite flower, a stocky bee is taking a nectar break. They have distinctive black stripes on their abdomen, a large head relative to their body & their face is a bit wasp-like in appearance.

051

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Mason bees also carry pollen on their underbelly, but I only ever see Leafcutters do this BBL (bee butt lift) It’s pretty impressive, she’s close to 90 degrees here Megachile on Grindelia/leaf cutter female on pacific gumweed #dailybee #bcnativebees #grindelia #nativeplants #grindelia #megachile

Against a dark background, a brown bee with stripes of white fur on her abdomen is foraging on the flat bottom of a yellow composite flower.
While her upper body is parallel with the bottom of the flower, she’s lifted her whole tail end straight up in the air, making nearly a 90 degree bend at her waist.

050

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Honeybees get way too much love- not only are they basically just free roaming livestock, but they’re objectively boring as hell to look at Especially when native bees like this majestic specimen of a floof (male Megachile/leafcutter) are right fucking here in my backyard #dailybee #bcnativebees

A grey male leafcutter bee with extremely floofy blonde fur is just about to land in a yellow flower. He has many remarkable features including huge jade green eyes, feathered white forelegs & a Mohawk of white fur across the front of his face

041

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Didn’t know these guys were here last year, now I can’t stop seeing them Heriades, or armoured resin bee, in the leafcutter & mason bee family On Achillea millefolium/pacific yarrow, a real workhorse of a pollinator plant, attracting all sorts of critters #dailybee #bcnativebees #heriades #yarrow

A small dark be with sparse white fuzz is just about to land on the edge of a cluster of white yarrow flowers. The bee has bright orange pollen stuck to its back feet, front legs, and the tips of its antennae.

020

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

Stripey-long legs here… Bombus californicus This bee is large, & distinct in its pattern & colour from other California bumbles I’ve seen - it doesn’t have any of the striking yellow black contrast but is instead a duller brownish yellow all over #dailybee #bcnativebees #bombus #nativebees

A fluffy yellow & black bumble bee flying towards a purple comfrey blossom, against a blurred backdrop of bright green leaves.

020

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Just noticed that the male leafcutters do the same butt lift as the females, except the ladies do it in order to pack pollen into their abdominal hairs I’ve noticed this a bunch, so not just a coincidence, it’s pretty funny tho, it’s such a distinctive behaviour! #dailybee #bcnativebees #megachile

A male leafcutter bee is drinking pollen at the base of a yellow gumweed/Grindelia flower. He has his abdomen arched up so his back end is higher than his head.

A female leafcutter bee in much the same position in a different Grindelia/gumweed flower. Her tail end is lifted high in the air and the underside is covered in orange pollen.

030

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

This is what I mean when I say leaf cutter boys’ forelegs look like they were stolen off a crustacean - they reportedly use them to cover the female’s eyes during mating, which makes them even more unsettling Megachile male on Helianthus maximiliani/perennial sunflower #dailybee #bcnativebees

A somewhat disheveled looking bee is perched along a yellow flower petal- he is grey with patchy white fluff & is looking at the camera with one huge spotted jade green eye. His front leg looks like it belongs on a different creature altogether- unlike the rest of him, it is pinkish white, large, smooth, and has multiple overlapping segments, like a crab leg, and a line of stiff looking bristles along the bottom side.

130

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Coelioxys, or sharp-tailed bee The wicked-looking end of her tail is for piercing the egg cell of a leaf-cutter bee She lays her own egg thru the opening & as w/ other kleptoparasites, it develops quickly & immediately kills any other eggs w/ its large mandibles #dailybee #bcnativebees #coelioxys

In the bottom of a bright orange calendula flower a dark grey bee is drinking nectar. She has large dark grey eyes and a striped abdomen that tapers to a vicious-looking point

030

The South End Daily Bee @msjessegray.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Male leaf cutters are some of my favourite bees- they’re cute & goofy & clumsy & seriously territorial & their forelegs look like they belong on a crustacean Plus they have an epic 19th c coal baron moustache Megachile on Douglas aster #dailybee #bcnativebees #megachile #symphyotrichumsubspicatum

A fluffy grey bee is caught in mid flight above a purple and yellow aster flower. He has a very striking face, with huge dark grey eyes, and a large blonde toothbrush moustache

130