Unidentified bee

[Hobie]

I saw a bee I could not identify on the milkweed the other day. Anyone know what this is? One of "my" girls is flying in on the right. Sorry about the blurry photo...

http://bees.shutterfly.com/action/slideshow?a=67b0de21b33f7c54c463&auto=0&m=1&d=1153318424666

[ July 19, 2006, 09:14 AM: Message edited by: Hobie ]

[Kieck]

I tried to take a look at it for you, but Shutterfly wants a password.

[Hobie]

Oops, sorry. I think I fixed it.

[Kieck]

It looks to me like one of the bees in the family Apidae (or Anthophoridae, depending on who you're talking to), which is the same family honey bees are in. It's probably one of the larger digger bees, or it could be a carpenter bee.

Nice size comparison with your honey bee on the right!