Morley Read / Slow motion clip of a male Orchid bee (Euglossini) gathering nectar from an orchid (Lycomormium ecuadorense) flower, Imbabura Province, Ecuador. (non-ex)

Phil Savoie / Painted nomad bee (Nomada fucata) male bee with characteristic green eyes, sleeping with jaws locked around grass stem, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. June

Phil Savoie / Grey patched mining bee (Andrena nitida),male feeding rambling rose flower (Rosa sp) Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. April

Pascal Pittorino / Mining bee (Andrena) male and female mating on flower, Var, Provence, France, April.

Graeme Guy / Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti) male, Penang, Malaysia

Ramon Navarro / Male European bee eater (Merops apiaster) offering insect to female as part of a courtship display, before mating, Seville, Spain, May.

Ammonite / Two male Mining bees (Andrena praecox) trying to reach a female bee in a hole, France, March.

Ammonite / Two male Mining bees (Andrena praecox) attacking a third male bee emerging from a hole with orchid pollinia attached, France, March.

Ammonite / Pair of Mining bees (Andrena praecox) mating, interupted by a second male, France, March.

Bence Mate / Pair of European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) with courtship offering of insect prey, Pusztaszer, Kiskunsagi National Park, Hungary

Roger Powell / Pair of European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) on a bank above their nest hole in front of flowers. Note regurgitated pellets of insect remains. Alentejo, Portugal, April.

Roger Powell / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) with a bee landing on a branch by its mate. Alentejo, Portugal, May.