Quite detailed and precise macro, yet most beautiful at the same time. It is not that often that an image is scientifically superb and so charming at the same time....
Thanks and congratulations, dear John !
That has to be a bee native to Holland. I've never seen one here in the U.S. that has a series of vertical stripes in the thorax and stripes running the opposite direction in the abdomen. But, then again, I have not seen all the varieties of American bees. The closest here might be some species of wasps, particularly with those curving and broken stripes in the abdomen. Good descriptive photo that would be an asset to a handbook on apiology.
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