SOLD "The Precious Teddy Bear Bee 2" - native to Australia. Acrylic on canvas

Size: 12" x 12" square / 31cm x 31cm square

The Teddy Bear bee (Amegilla bombiformis) is an iconic, golden-brown, and incredibly fluffy native Australian bee. Growing about 15–20mm in size, they are solitary, ground-dwelling bees renowned for their low-pitch buzz and expert "buzz pollination".

• Appearance: They are stout, chubby, and covered in thick, golden-brown fur, making them look exactly like a miniature teddy bear.
• Habitat: They live Australia-wide, except in Tasmania. They are common in eastern and northern states, nesting in the soil of soft clay banks, creek beds, or even in the dirt/mortar underneath houses.
• Fun Fact: the males are completely harmless as they cannot sting. The females, however, sting, but they rarely sting humans unless they are directly threatened. Despite their cute name, they can give a painful sting on par with that of the Fire ant. Beware the female - she has a sting in her tail.