A few more images from time spent sitting in the shade by my pond watching the insects visiting or living on the water. Honey Bees were the most frequent visitors drinking at the water surface to stay hydrated, feed larvae and regulate temperature to maintain optimal hive conditions, especially during hot weather. Worker bees collect water and spread it on the walls of wax cells, then fan it with their wings to create evaporative cooling, effectively air-conditioning the hive, crucial for brood development and preventing wax from melting!! Wasps similarly collect water and spread droplets over the nest structure, then fan their wings to promote evaporation which lowers the nest’s internal temperature, protecting eggs and larvae from overheating etc They also need water to mix with chewed wood fibers to create a pulp that hardens into paper-like structures for their nests. Not many other insects showing themselves in the garden - mostly Shield/Plant bugs and Spiders!
